From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Oct 2 14:27:00 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5F8321065688 for ; Thu, 2 Oct 2008 14:27:00 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: from gizmo.acns.msu.edu (gizmo.acns.msu.edu [35.8.1.43]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 085C48FC35 for ; Thu, 2 Oct 2008 14:26:59 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: from gizmo.acns.msu.edu (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by gizmo.acns.msu.edu (8.13.6/8.13.6) with ESMTP id m92EPJT5052203 for ; Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:25:19 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: (from jerrymc@localhost) by gizmo.acns.msu.edu (8.13.6/8.13.6/Submit) id m92EPJUp052202 for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:25:19 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from jerrymc) Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:25:19 -0400 From: Jerry McAllister To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20081002142519.GG51954@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> References: <200810011048.21874.lists@rhavenn.net> <18659.52849.278757.861259@jerusalem.litteratus.org> <20081001172216.5015add3@scorpio> <20081001232502.G56202@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <20081001180424.56e6ca69@scorpio> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20081001180424.56e6ca69@scorpio> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.2i Subject: Re: Questions drivers for VGA and NIC X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:27:00 -0000 On Wed, Oct 01, 2008 at 06:04:24PM -0400, Jerry wrote: > On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 23:25:19 +0200 (CEST) > Wojciech Puchar wrote: > > >> In all likelihood, the probability of any vendor creating FBSD > >> specific drivers is directly proportionate to the expenditure of > >> funds to create and maintain the driver versus the expected revenue > >> from such an expenditure. > > > >giving out a specs will be the simplest way. > > Any entity, or corporation, has a right to expect a return on their > investment. To expect a corporation to simply give away something, > thereby depriving their shareholders, partners or whatever, of their > rightfully expected monetary reward is foolish. It certainly is not a > well thought out business model. First, in cases like this, giving out the specs so someone can write a good driver could increase their sales of cards which could, in turn, increase their profit. So, it would help their business rather than hurt it. They do not sell those drivers. They just use them to sell video cards. Since the lack of a driver that works in FreeBSD limits their sales of video cards, then they are making the business mistake you are indicating, only in a reverse sort of way. Second, and very important. No corporation has any right to expect a return on their investment. Investment is always a risk. They might hope for a return, but they will have to work for it. They will be fortunate to get it. More business ventures fail than succeed. Maybe it is only a case of using the wrong word, but it is still important to remember that there is no guarantee of profit. That was the big failing of price controls - that the government got in to the business of guaranteeing profits and then the whole thing fell apart. ////jerry Jerry McAllister jerrymc@msu.edu > > -- > Jerry > gesbbb@yahoo.com > > If man is only a little lower than the angels, the angels should reform. > > Mary Wilson Little