[LUNI] Switching distros yet again

[Mike Scott]

> Sorry, I need to make clear - you were most definitely *not* using
> closed source drivers "from the distro."  We do not provide closed
> source drivers in Fedora.  Ubuntu does enable the installation of
> non-Free software out of the box, which is something that Fedora is
> opposed to on the grounds that we believe in Free software.  Not Free
> except when it is convenient for us to turn our backs on our ethos.

My bad, one of the drivers was listed in the GUI, though it may have
been from another repository.  I would like to address the ethos item.
Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that it is not my
intention of starting a flame war.  Talking open/closed source is like
trying to debate religion.

I would like to offer my perspective as a user.  I personally don't care
if a particular vendor does not wish to open the code for their drivers.
 In a perfect world, that would be the case.  Whatever reason nVidia
chooses not to, is their business.  Maybe they feel this would reveal
too much information about the internal workings of their hardware.  I
can't say since I don't know their corporate mentality.

I have to say that I have always been partial to Red Hat.  I think
everybody has a special place in their heart for the first distro that
they got to work.  I think I have RH CDs going back to version 4 or 5. 
I still have a server running RH7 and used it up until the split of the
enterprise/Fedora distros.  I then went with SuSe and was happy with
them until they were purchased by Novell who (showing that those who
don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat their failures)
sold their soul to the devil (Microsoft).  I then tried Kubuntu and was
happy with it.  I recently decided to revisit Red Hat and since I am not
a corporation with a corporate budget, decided to sample Fedora.

I just want to be able to utilize my hardware to it's fullest.  Ubuntu
gave me this option on installation and they told me this was closed
source and asked if I wanted to install it anyway.  Your distro made
this extremely difficult.  From a user perspective, theirs worked with
minimal effort.

I can understand your devotion to FOSS and it is commendable, in the end
it just makes installation more difficult.

> I think it was a problem with your enabling different, conflicting
> repositories.  In your post you point to the instructions at
> http://www.fedorafaq.org/#nvidia but it seems you didn't really follow
> them.  :-(

I did start by following step-by-step from the FAQ and it didn't work,
though I may have tried a couple of different angles as my frustration
grew.

> I'd invite you to try Fedora again.

I have another drive that I can use to try this weekend. I will try a
Fedora 8 clean install and not try the "kitchen sink" approach.  I will
let you know how I make out.

-Mike