AMD and Intel have worked hard to have open graphics, drop NVIDIA

[DRM_free]

AMD has released the documentation to its graphics cards and is continuing to do so. Download the docs here. They are actively supporting OpenSUSE to write open source drivers for AMD graphics cards and they have hired the leading developer of the open source radeon driver (Alex Deutcher).

Intel has also released all the documentation to their graphics components. Download the documents here.

I really hope System76 will offer AMD/ATI cards instead of NVIDIA for all their laptops and desktops. It's a real shame that System76 is using NVIDIA (and only NVIDIA) discrete cards, because NVIDIA is one of the most anti-open source vendors out there. Use you economic clout to reward vendors like AMD and Intel who have frankly sacrificed a lot and exposed themselves to patent lawsuits in order to be open-source friendly.

[asmiller-ke6seh]

Originally Posted by DRM_free Use you {sic} economic clout to reward vendors like AMD and Intel who have frankly sacrificed a lot and exposed themselves to patent lawsuits in order to be open-source friendly.

System 76 is, like any company, is looking to satisfy its client's needs.

System 76 doesn't have any clout with companies like the manufacturers of nvidia boards and chipsets. As nice as the folks at System 76 are, and as much as I love their products, they are not big enough to have clout.

[steveneddy]

I agree with your ethics regarding FOSS, but in reality, Nvidia cards are more reliable than ATI at the moment.

[buntunub]

Originally Posted by DRM_free because NVIDIA is one of the most anti-open source vendors out there. Use you economic clout to reward vendors like AMD and Intel who have frankly sacrificed a lot and exposed themselves to patent lawsuits in order to be open-source friendly.

Why then does NVIDIA have the best supported Linux Drivers around, and has for quite a long time, very unlike ATi, which has always been renowned for being vehemently anti Linux and anti Open Source all the way up until AMD snatched them up. Me thinks your a tad confused on the facts.

[DRM_free]

Why then does NVIDIA have the best supported Linux Drivers around

The latest AMD cards actually outperform NVIDIA on Linux (sorry, I've lost the link to the Phoronix benchmark from a couple of months ago). In fact, the AMD drivers for Linux are even better than the Windows drivers for the same hardware!

AMD has certainly become one of the most FOSS friendly manufacturers, especially considering that they've resisted DRM and are actively developing CoreBoot, formerly known as LinuxBIOS.