[CoLoCo] A Serious Issue Not Taken Seriously.

[Jim Hutchinson]

On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 8:04 PM, Michael TheZorch Haney
<thezorch at gmail.com>wrote:

>
> Thanks.  Its nice to see someone in the Linux Community who is able to
> "think outside the box" and see beyond just FOSS.  It warms my heart.


As someone who is pretty much a fence rider on the issue, I see both sides
of the issue. I use my nvidia driver and flash because they are simple and
give me what I want. But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to see more
openness in computing.


> I've tried to convey this simple premise in other forums but nobody
> seems to get it and I'm honestly perplexed as to why is so hard for them
> to understand.  Its mind-boggling.  It like trying to talk sense into a
> right-winger, goes in one ear and out the other.


To "get it" simply means other people agree with you. To play devil's
advocate here (remember, I'm a fence rider) some in the FOSS community are
asking why others don't get that open standards are it and to them it's
mind-boggling that some people think it's okay to run proprietary binaries
on their computers.

Like most things that are important, there isn't a right and a wrong side.
Instead, there are complex issues that require complex answers. Right now,
anyone that says they support FOSS is going to have to advocate on both
sides. Those who pick one side or the other will end up hurting that which
they profess to care about. Right now, I'd say the RMS camp probalby hurts
Linux/FOSS/GNU (not going to argue the fine points) adoption. However, I'd
also say they are fighting the good fight and in the long run it will
probably prove well that we had them out there fighting. Likewise, those who
feel binary blobs are perfectly acceptable prevent Linux/FOSS/GNU from
advancing since these things by their nature thrive on openness. However, in
the short term we need them in order to make and non-proprietary OS an
option for "average" people which will build the user base. It boggles my
mind :) that people don't get this and we end up fighting each other.

So, I'm curious. What would everyone say is the best solution to the problem
presented regarding video resolution? What would everyone say is "the fix"
that will ensue that no one has to deal with this in the future?

I see four possible answers.

1. the devs just have to bit the bullet and fix this.

2. Ubuntu has to just ship all the binary drivers.

3. vendors open source drivers.

4. make the binary drivers available but keep them out of a default install.
Give people the information they need to add them if they wish but keep
fighting for the day when none of this is necessary and the devs can just
make it all work.

If there is a fifth or whatever please share. I'm sure I can't see all
angles.

Lets look a bit closer at these.

1. not possible since the devs don't have access to the hardware specs or
drivers to work from.

2. probably the most realistic in that it's possible (not sure about
licencing but others do it so Ubuntu could too). This would minimize issues
but it also undermines the Ubuntu promise and the Ubuntu goals (i.e. a free
and unencumbered OS). However, some would accept that in the short run to
have greater adoption.

3. not likely in the short term but in time it may become a reality. Some
vendors are already doing this. Intel seems to be and ATI is also opening to
name a couple.

4. already the case. The drivers are available, people can install them and
Ubuntu continues to push for open standards. Sure, they could be a bit more
easy to find but for several releases now I'm told the nvidia driver is
available for my system and a click or two installs it and sets it up
automagically.

So what's the right answer? (hint: it's a trick question. There isn't ONE
right answer. It's a complex problem and those are simple solutions).

Now, I'm willing to admit I could be totally off base. I've only been
following this stuff for about 3 years and not very closely at that. I'm
fully open to a better option but right now I think the best answer is a mix
of all four with a hope that in the future number 3 becomes more a reality.

/me dons aesbestos suite.

-- 
Jim (Ubuntu geek extraordinaire)
----
Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
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