From alsa-devel-owner@alsa.jcu.cz  Sun Mar  7 21:52:16 1999
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To: alsa-devel@alsa.jcu.cz
cc: rms@gnu.org
From: sharkey@ale.physics.sunysb.edu
Subject: Re: ALSA Soundcard Vendor Information 
In-reply-to: Your message of "Sun, 07 Mar 1999 15:01:00 EST."
             <199903072002.PAA11882@renoir.op.net> 
Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 05:51:50 +0900
Reply-To: alsa-devel@alsa.jcu.cz
Sender: alsa-devel-owner@alsa.jcu.cz
Precedence: list

> You tell them that Linux is a free/open source operating system, and
> that the company that produces the hardware they want to use doesn't
> believe in software like Linux.

That's exactly what I would do.

> You tell them that if they want to use
> hardware from companies like that, they should use Windows.

But I wouldn't do that.

It's important to explain to people why free software is important.  (The
virtues are not immediately apparent to most people.)  Say why its worth
their while to switch to another hardware vendor.  Never even suggest that
they should switch to Windows.

It's been my experience that only hardware with alternatives have closed
drivers.  Special custom cards almost always come with all necessary
information.  (I'm working on a project which involves a parallel port
controlled stepper motor and a rotary encoder which is read out by a custom
ISA card.  The number of manufacturers for stuff like this is much smaller
than that for consumer sound cards.  Of course, these products did not
come with a Linux kernel driver, but all the information necessary to
write one was included in the documentation that shipped with the devices
by default.  I was really worried about this at first, but it turned out
to be quite easy.)  My point is that either they really need that card,
in which case they probably have easy access to documentation, or they
don't need that card at all.  There's almost never a need to resort to Windows.

Eric

