The Dell Latitude reality check

[Scott Kitterman]

On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 08:45:01 pm Patrick Goetz wrote:
> On 2/16/2011 4:07 PM, Paul Smith wrote:
> > The problem is with the licensing of the _proprietary driver_.  These
> > drivers typically allow no-charge download directly from the vendor
> > website, but the license includes terms that make REDISTRIBUTION illegal
> > (without permission).
> 
> If that's the case, then the solution is option A: provide the user with
> upfront information on the issue with this driver and how to obtain the
> driver and then provide some mechanism (think Windows XP here) to vector
> the driver into the install using a USB stick or some such device.
> 
> Not only will this provide a much better user experience, but it creates
> consumer awareness of these driver issues.  And who knows how many of
> these first time installers will get irritated enough to contact the
> hardware vendor and complain?  in essence, a free opportunity to apply
> pressure to vendors to provide open source or at least freely
> distributable linux drivers.

It's not the case.  We have broadcom drivers in restricted on at least some 
ISOs.  The issue is the lack of U/I to make driver install and wireless setup 
easy in the context of the installer.  Some of this work was planned for 
Maverick, but didn't get done due to lack of resources.

Scott K