On Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:42:06 +0100 Klistvud <quotati...@aliceadsl.fr> wrote:
> Dne, 19. 01. 2011 11:09:03 je Michelle Konzack napisal(a): > > > OK tnaks, found the Link to the "ipw2200" and the > > non-free firmware is provided by the Debian Project. > > If at all possible, do not go with non-free firmware binary blobs, even > if provided in Debian-related repositories (in addition, non-free is > not even Debian, strictly speaking -- it's just a "service provided to > the Debian users"). Binary blobs can not be debugged/improved/enhanced > by Linux developers and, as a result, may lead to unreliable operation, > lock-ups, disconnects, unimplemented features, slower speeds, lower > operating range, or all of the above. When that happens, the > manufacturer WON'T help you, and the Linux developers CAN'T. So you'll > be pretty much fscked. I know, I use a broadcom card with a proprietary > driver and it's a living hell. > > Really. Go with a free driver if at all possible, you'll be happy you > did. 1) Some chips implement all their logic in hardware, and some leave some for implementation in software (firmware). Why is the latter case more problematic than the former? IOW, you'll almost never have open hardware - the chip is just a black box to you. So why does the fact that they've moved some of the logic to software (firmware) make things worse? 2) Hardware logic certainly can't be debugged/improved/enhanced, so once again, why are we worse off now that they've moved some of the logic into software (firmware)? 3) You mention using a Broadcom card with a proprietary driver. Do you mean driver or firmware? In general, your post suggests that you may be conflating the problems with closed drivers and closed firmwares. The former present much more of a problem, since the code is actually running on your system and in kernel mode, and can therefore do do anything it wants to your system. This is not the case with firmware running on a card. Celejar -- foffl.sourceforge.net - Feeds OFFLine, an offline RSS/Atom aggregator mailmin.sourceforge.net - remote access via secure (OpenPGP) email ssuds.sourceforge.net - A Simple Sudoku Solver and Generator -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-laptop-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20110119174512.4c281492.cele...@gmail.com
