Intel: Why Open-Source Drivers Work

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Intel: Why Open-Source Drivers Work

This afternoon Intel's Chief Linux and Open-Source Technologist, Dirk Hohndel, talked about why Intel's commitment to open-source drivers creates a difference and advantage for Intel's architecture platforms. Nothing groud-breaking or too special was presented, but we have included some of Dirk's slides from this open-source driver presentation. Intel had also mentioned that AMD's (well, referenced as a "major graphics card vendor") open-source driver efforts as "good news." He also mentioned that a major OEM is requiring that by next year their hardware suppliers must either have an open-source driver available or be able to provide an open-source driver within the next twelve months. The likely company that comes to mind is Dell but Dirk refused to comment any further.

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=11103

[Svartalf]

Originally Posted by phoronix

He also mentioned that a major OEM is requiring that by next year their hardware suppliers must either have an open-source driver available or be able to provide an open-source driver within the next twelve months.

There's only three players that come immediately to mind as being the OEM that's pushing for this- Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Dell's the likely candidate of the three in my opinion for several reasons we won't discuss here.

[halfmanhalfamazing]

-----------He also mentioned that a major OEM is requiring that by next year their hardware suppliers must either have an open-source driver available or be able to provide an open-source driver within the next twelve months. The likely company that comes to mind is Dell but Dirk refused to comment any further.----------

They want to leverage the community.(and vendors such as AMD who wish to participate) Linux is (obviously) small potatoes for these guys, and if they don't have to do the in house support themselves that lowers their cost bar making it more profitable. They'll still have to do some support, but this way they have to do less.

At least, that's what I would do if I were the shot caller over at Dell/HP/Lenovo and trying to cope with user demand for linux.

[danielhedblom]

That a vendor, one of the bigger ones demands drivers is big. Even bigger is that this vendor demands open source drivers and not binary blobs. If anything is going to drive manufacturers of computer parts and accessories to develop drivers for open source its demands like this from big players. I hope more manufacturers dare to follow suit and do the same.

Next is to see how long it takes before supporting Linux at the client side is demanded from customers. Like mp3 players, server clients, peripherals and web services.

If this push starts a wave big things can happen very quickly.