NVIDIA Drivers for 2.6 Kernel

fmileto writes "Kerneltrap.org is reporting that Nvidia has released drivers for the 2.6 series kernel. The driver and install directions can be found on Nvidia's website."

Comments

Microsoft won't let them

[Anonymous Coward]

NVidia won't Open Source their drivers because their deal with Microsoft won't allow it.

Microsoft knows they can't stop Linux, so they intend to control it instead. But that doesn't mean controlling all of Linux, only the distribution(s) used by the majority of corporate users, as one step toward Microsoft control of Internet protocols.

And since they can't control Open Source code, the only way for Microsoft to control Linux users is to make them dependent on closed source and proprietary components. Then, when the time is right, a new version of those components will only work with Microsoft's own distribution of Linux.

This strategy almost certainly involves NVidia and ATI. Other possible candidates, in my opinion, are Crossover Office, and the proprietary edition of Qt.

Note the timing of NVidia's and ATI's actions. First, Microsoft partnered with NVidia for the XBox, then NVidia hired the developers of the Open Source Linux NVidia drivers, stopped their work on those drivers, and released closed source drivers. Next, Microsoft partnered with ATI for the XBox, and ATI cut back on their support for Open Source Linux drivers, and released closed source drivers.

The way to thwart Microsoft's strategy is to never compromise on matters of freedom. That doesn't mean that your must avoid all propriatary software, for example, closed source end user applications are probably fine in most cases. But it does mean that all of your drivers and middleware should be under an Open Source license.