Slashdot Mirror
ATI Updates Linux Drivers
GraWil writes "Famed graphics card maker and documented Linux supporter ATI has refreshed its proprietary Linux drivers (3.11.1) for the Radeon and FireGL series cards. Unfortunately, many of the previous comments still apply and it seems that ATI is not yet committed to supporting Linux well. The procedure for installing is now documented in a separate how-to but it seems that quite a few are stuck in an endless cycle of compiling kernels with/without DRI/AGPGART/RADEON/DBE (insert random module here). For those with strong enough feelings, ATI is seeking feedback on these drivers."
The thing that moved me to nVidia was the lack of quality in the Windows drivers...
The thing that moved me from Windows/Linux dualboot to Linux fulltime in 1997 or so were driver issues with whatever video card I had at the time and a DirectX "upgrade" that left my Windows system unusable. It wasn't worth my time to reinstall.
The thing that moved me from Linux to Mac OS X was the lack of this kind of bullshit. (I had to recompile X from CVS in 2001 to get it to support my laptop's video card an Intel 810 I believe, maybe an 815, don't remember). I don't even know where or what drivers are in OS X, and I don't care. It just works, and it works well. I just checked and I have an ATI card in my Mac.
Granted I do not play (computer) games, so my "needs" are different than those that do.
Another Mastercard knockoff:
PC with Lindows: $1,500 + time monkeying around with drivers and rebooting
PC with Linux: $1,500 + time monkeying around with kernels, drivers, restarting X and/or rebooting
Mac with OS X: $1,500
Reclaiming my time not monkeying around with drivers and rebooting: Priceless