Intel? Pro Linux or User/Abuser?

English Soapbox
1

I’m working on a laptop with the Intel onboard GPU. Some things are
really nice. It’s obvious that Intel spent some time working on xorg
and I had heard that was true. There are even some videos and such
about Intel’s involvement and the advanced autodetection features you
get with their GPU. For example, it knows about multiple monitors as
you plug them in and you can control the resolution and orientation of
each independently all from Krandrtray. Pretty spiffy.

However, Xv is pretty much toast… it works, but not well with
composite. Reminds me of drivers from about 5 years ago. You get
that “blue” back problem… and the Xv app will be blue on other
viewports/monitors (like the old days).

Intel likes to say they are pro-Linux, in fact, they have SAID that they
will release NO new hardware UNLESS they have a Linux driver for it from
DAY ONE (wow!).

But you know, I read about everyone’s problems with the Intel wireless,
and even some of their NICs. Intel won’t support older stuff, even if
it’s only a few years old.

Then when you consider what happened with OLPC, granted Intel was
wanting to slam the AMD processor it has… but in the process, they
killed a LOT of new Linux deployments.

I don’t think Intel is REALLY our friend… at least it looks to me like
they are users/abusers and not really helpers. Anyone else feel that
way?

2

On 08/12/2008 cjcox wrote:
> I don’t think Intel is REALLY our friend…

We’re talking business here, not emotions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_desktop_operating_systems
From a turnover point of view, Linux on the desktop isn’t important. At all.

Uwe

3

Intel is pro-Intel but it has been very smart about it since the 1980s. It invented open source in 1988 when it contracted Michael Tielmann to support one of its engineering chips - even though the name ‘Open Source’ wasn’t invented until 1998.

It recognised the skill of Asus engineers in making motherboards in the early 1990s and made them favoured customers.

It saw the value of Linux and is a major contributor to the kernel.

Asus has repaid the faith Intel had in it by inventing a completely new package which will assure sales of Intel chips.

Intel has been one of most innovative companies in finding new ways to promote its products and it won’t deliberately set out to upset its customers except, as in the case of OLPC, for strategic reasons but it has so many fingers in so many pies it may accidentally do so.