Wednesday, August 9th, 2006
It’s raining open source graphics drivers: AMD/ATI now considering it!
Ok, this is weird, but apparently AMD is dropping hints their new ATI acquisition may be going open…. open source drivers that is – yes I did just blog about Intel – but then saw this. If they do open them (maybe… next week) I promise to remove the dig at ATI in my prior post.
This is excellent news and a huge step forward for Linux desktops. I have a feeling AMD is trying to be much more… could they be looking to grab an early beachhead into Linux PCs??
I’m actually going to award AMD/ATI or nVidia the grace of my purchasing a graphics card for my new desktop based on the first one to open source their drivers (including 3D). That’s right – the winner will get about $150-200 of my business. (I can see them rushing to the CEO offices now…)
Oh – and Intel de-invited a partner demoing an Intel system with an ATI card in it – how funny.
Lastly, and remember you heard it here, AMD is strongly considering open-sourcing at least a functional subset of ATI’s graphics drivers. It’s time for X Window System, OpenGL, and client virtualization for which ATI binary drivers aren’t available to escape the ghetto of the 1980s-era framebuffer. And what a boon for PR. If AMD’s graphics cards were the only ones with open device drivers, it might affect a buying decision or two.
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August 10th, 2006 at 4:39 am
hook said:
The second link is broken.
It’s seems like great news though! I’m a bit of a sceptic in nature, so I’ll wait to see how it actually evolves – they can still screw it up royally if they want to.
August 10th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Administrator said:
yep – that’s why I haven’t retracted my gripe about them yet. It probably has the same odds as Sun not screwing up open sourcing Java – if it ever happens…
August 11th, 2006 at 8:21 am
hook said:
The “and Intel de-invited a partner demoing an Intel system with an ATI card in it” link is still broken though ;)
August 12th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Administrator said:
Nice catch on the broken link – should work now