[linux-audio-dev] closed source drivers [was: Re: Behringer]

[Marek Peteraj]

On Wed, 2004-12-01 at 00:09, Fons Adriaensen wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 30, 2004 at 05:32:30PM -0500, Dave Robillard wrote:
> 
> > I'd rather not have people with this ignorant 'closed drivers = good'
> > opinion turning Linux into yet another Windows.  If you want a sh***y
> > proprietary OS, there's plenty to choose from already.  Do the rest of
> > us a favour and don't advocate turning Linux into yet another one.
> 
> I will follow you reasoning up to a point.
> 
> Suppose we have a card X with a closed source driver. You will not
> use it. Now we make a new card Y, which is actually an X with the
> functionality of the driver pushed into the (closed source) firmware.
> We make a third card Z with the same functionality pushed inside the
> hardware.
> 
> Will you use Y ?
> Will you use Z ?
> 
> If the answer to either is yes, what is the essential difference ?

It's a lot more likely that Z will work very well with a newer
kernel/system/api/whatever with changes applied to the open source
driver provided there are specs available. 
You can forget about that with product X once it gets discontinued.

I take Z. 

Marek