Dell is asking what free OS to preinstall

[Nikolas Britton]

On 3/14/07, Jeff Rollin <jeff.rollin at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 14/03/07, Eric Kjeldergaard <kjelderg at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > drivers.)  For those of us using FreeBSD, there's not a substantial
> > advantage to proprietary linux drivers over proprietary Windows drivers.  We
> > go unsupported either way.
> >
> >
> Hmm, well I would hope that they would use hardware with open source
> drivers only, in which case, yes, FreeBSD would be able to take
> advantage. Even if, say, the OSD's are GPL'ed, that would at least
> allow BSD users to inquire as to the specs from the OSD developers.
>

Yes I agree with everything you've said Jeff... There is one Linux
distribution where developers will go out of there way to remove
binary blobs and that is Debian, Ubuntu is a tad bit more neutral but
I don't think it matters. If Ubuntu/Debian developers prefer open
drivers you can be sure Dell will do what it can to make it happen.
With million dollar OEM contracts on the line Dell can pressure any
company into releasing open driver documentation, this benefits
FreeBSD directly.

Choose your battles wisely.