[clug] Free ubuntu

[Cameron Patrick]

Fredd wrote:

> Regarding non-free drivers, as I understand it, Ubuntu doesn't contain any  
> when it ships, or when  downloaded.

Incorrect.

Ubuntu includes a number of non-free drivers, some of which are enabled
by default (e.g. Intel wireless drivers, which require either non-free
firmware to be loaded into the card, or a non-free daemon to program the
right frequencies into the transmitter, depending on the model; and
Atheros wireless drivers, which are consist of kernel modules for which
only _some_ of the source code is available), and some of which are not
(e.g.  Nvidia and ATI graphics drivers, which include a non-free kernel
module).

Not enabling proprietary drivers by default puts pressure on hardware
manufacturers, and sends the message that drivers without source code
are not considered "good enough" by Linux contributors, distributors and
users.  It also encourages those with the skills to reverse-engineer
undocumented hardware and write free drivers for it.  In the past, this
has happened to a number of devices, such as Nvidia Ethernet and SATA
controllers.  More recently, I was pleasantly surprised when I installed
Ubuntu on my brother's machine the other day and the Radeon 9600 was
supported, with 3D acceleration, using entirely free drivers.  There is
a similar effort going on to provide free 3D drivers for Nvidia graphics
hardware.

Cameron