From owner-freebsd-hackers Mon Feb 10 18: 4:22 2003 Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 58FB137B401 for ; Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:21 -0800 (PST) Received: from apollo.backplane.com (apollo.backplane.com [216.240.41.2]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 457A443F93 for ; Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:20 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from dillon@apollo.backplane.com) Received: from apollo.backplane.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by apollo.backplane.com (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id h1B24ISJ027280; Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:18 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from dillon@apollo.backplane.com) Received: (from dillon@localhost) by apollo.backplane.com (8.12.6/8.12.6/Submit) id h1B24IUD027279; Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:18 -0800 (PST) Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:18 -0800 (PST) From: Matthew Dillon Message-Id: <200302110204.h1B24IUD027279@apollo.backplane.com> To: Terry Lambert Cc: Joe O , hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Another EPIA M 9000 update (was Re: More compartive power/performanceresults (was Re: Lower power SMP boxes?)) References: <20030210120212.G47233-100000@clubfoot.cracktown.com> <200302102042.h1AKghcu023195@apollo.backplane.com> <3E4855B5.F8C90526@mindspring.com> Sender: owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk List-ID: List-Archive: (Web Archive) List-Help: (List Instructions) List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: X-Loop: FreeBSD.ORG :Matthew Dillon wrote: :> The "vga" driver works in low resolution modes. The "vesa" driver :> does not work. Via has a linux driver on their CD for X, called "via", :> which linux people seem to be using successfully, but I can't find :> sources anywhere. I don't understand why these companies don't just :> include sources for their X drivers, it would make life so much easier. : :The do not because then people could leverage their work by :building hardware which does not license anything from them, :but operates compatably. The same reason Adaptec developed :their "HIM" layer, to prevent people from using Adaptec SCSI :drivers with non-Adaptec hardware, and getting all the work :they did to get the driver into the Windows base OS, for free. : :Basically, it's done to amortize non-recurring non-developement :related collateral business costs. : :Or, if you're Diamond, it's done because you hired an EE to :do your firmware instead of a software engineer, and a third :party driver could cause your hardware or an external monitor :to explode. 8-). : :-- Terry This doesn't make any sense to me. There are a huge number of open-source drivers available, why would a third party want to "steal" the hardware layer to VIA's hardware just to emulate it? Why not some other hardware abstraction that is already available in open-source form? From a business perspective I just don't see how this could possibly effect VIA's bottom line. It isn't rocket science we're talking about here, it's a sodding frame buffer. -Matt Matthew Dillon To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hackers" in the body of the message