On 15/04/2014 09:14, Mick wrote: > On Monday 14 Apr 2014 15:35:00 Alan McKinnon wrote: > >> The nvidia blobs do work well as long as you use them the way they were >> intended to be used. >> >> The way they were intended to be used is the same way Windows uses them, >> the Linux and Windows drivers share the bulk of the internal code and >> Linux feature set most definitely is not the driving force here :-) >> >> Which means some awesome things the X server can do simply do not work >> with the blob. The blob also rips out most of the OpenGL and framebuffer >> code and replaces it with it's own mysterious black magic, this can add >> more wrinkles. >> >> And finally, the Nvidia blob is not at all integrated with the kernel in >> any meaningful way, so your running kernel usually ends up 2-4 versions >> behind current. > > Would I be wrong to deduce from this that I would be better off with Radeon > cards instead of moving to NVidia? Out of coincidence I have been using > Radeon for ever it seems and I have had no problem that I recall with the > free > radeon drivers. No need to align suitable kernel versions with new video > card > drivers, or skip any driver versions, or much else. The only thing that I > had > to think about was how to sort out suitable firmware, but even this was > relatively easy. > > Many people slate Radeon cards and this had me thinking that I should > consciously make an effort to buy NVidia, but I am not as sure at this moment > in time that this would not bring more problems than its worth?
Would you be better off with a Toyota or a Nissan? Same answer: I don't see much difference. Both work, both have free and blob drivers, both are better at some things and worse at others. I really don't see any clear cut reason to choose one over the other for the general case. Never mind that some people will not touch one or the other with a barge pole no matter how much you pay them, I think they just have human bias. I've used both over the years, with free and blob drivers, and they always did what I need them to do - display a desktop and play movies. There will always be cases where some specific range of GPU and/or drivers just isn't up to snuff but I don't think that applies overall. You should go with the option that maximizes your own personal warm and fuzzy feelings :-) -- Alan McKinnon alan.mckin...@gmail.com
