From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Jun 16 21:16:55 2007 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id EADB016A469; Sat, 16 Jun 2007 21:16:55 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from youshi10@u.washington.edu) Received: from mxout5.cac.washington.edu (mxout5.cac.washington.edu [140.142.32.135]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C5FA613C45E; Sat, 16 Jun 2007 21:16:55 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from youshi10@u.washington.edu) Received: from smtp.washington.edu (smtp.washington.edu [140.142.33.9] (may be forged)) by mxout5.cac.washington.edu (8.13.7+UW06.06/8.13.7+UW07.05) with ESMTP id l5GLGjFw018109 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=OK); Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:16:46 -0700 X-Auth-Received: from [192.168.10.45] (c-24-10-12-194.hsd1.ca.comcast.net [24.10.12.194]) (authenticated authid=youshi10) by smtp.washington.edu (8.13.7+UW06.06/8.13.7+UW07.03) with ESMTP id l5GLGiJw011286 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NOT); Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:16:45 -0700 Message-ID: <46745340.6090702@u.washington.edu> Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:16:48 -0700 From: Garrett Cooper User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.4 (Windows/20070604) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Wilko Bulte References: <200706161733.RAA14937@sopwith.solgatos.com> <20070616191714.GA38504@freebie.xs4all.nl> In-Reply-To: <20070616191714.GA38504@freebie.xs4all.nl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-PMX-Version: 5.3.1.294258, Antispam-Engine: 2.5.1.298604, Antispam-Data: 2007.6.16.135834 X-Uwash-Spam: Gauge=IIIIIII, Probability=7%, Report='__CP_MEDIA_2_BODY 0, __CP_MEDIA_BODY 0, __CT 0, __CTE 0, __CT_TEXT_PLAIN 0, __HAS_MSGID 0, __MIME_TEXT_ONLY 0, __MIME_VERSION 0, __SANE_MSGID 0, __USER_AGENT 0' Cc: freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG, Dieter , chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Fwd: AMD deciding _now_ what to do about Linux X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 21:16:56 -0000 Wilko Bulte wrote: > On Sat, Jun 16, 2007 at 10:33:00AM +0100, Dieter wrote.. > >> So who, exactly, is the best person to write to requesting >> docs for AMD/ATI graphics/video chips? >> >> We need to politely inform them that >> >> There are a lot of operating systems out there, >> and they all need high quality, fully functional drivers. >> FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Plan-9, Open-Solaris, ... >> >> We might want to add a ATI graphics/video card to a computer >> with a different CPU architecture (Alpha, Sparc, PPC, ...) >> >> Binary drivers are useless, because: >> Too many OSes. >> Too many CPU archs. >> Can't fix bugs. >> Can't fix security holes. >> Therefore we need documentation on how to program the chips. >> >> 2D is not enough. We need video decoding and 3D. >> >> If we can't have high quality, fully functional source code drivers >> for the OS and CPU arch of our choice, then there is no reason to >> buy the product. >> >> Have I left out anything? >> > > Well.. yes. "How much revenue ($$) AMD will loose when these open > source projects do not get the chip docs". > > Ultimately the $$ question is what exec level management will ask. > > Countering the above statements (the following are important questions to answer, and should be done by their business types with more hard data): How much money will AMD lose on competitive edge versus market segment share for the particular open source customer base? How much of the ATI drivers will they have to modify in order to ensure that they remain IP protected and the extremely proprietary sections don't get put out in the open by accident? -Garrett