Difference between revisions of "Free Hardware"

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In letzter Zeit ist zu beobachten, daß freie Betriebssysteme als Desktop-Systeme immer mehr an Boden verlieren. Auch im Umfeld von Linux-Usergroups gibt es eine Massenmigration zu Mac OS X als Desktop-Unix. Hauptgrund ist, neben weiterhin existierenden Lücken im Softwareangebot, die zunehmend problematischere Hardware-Unterstützung von Linux und X11 im Zeitalter der Laptops, WLAN- und 3D-Graphikkarten:
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Recently, free operating systems seem to lose ground on the desktop. Even in Linux user groups, there's a mass migration towards Mac OS X as a desktop Unix. Next to still existing gaps in user software, the main reason is increasingly problematic hardware support for laptops, WLAN and 3D video cards.
  
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* Es gibt derzeit keine aktuelle Graphikkarte, deren Hardwarebeschleunigung von freien Treibern unterstützt wird, weil das Duopol ATI/Nvidia sich von proprietärer, nicht offen spezifizierter Hardware Wettbewerbsvorteile verspricht.
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* There is almost no video adapter on the market whose hardware acceleration is supported by free drivers. The duopoly of ATI and Nvidia thinks it gains a competetive advantage through proprietary hardware with non-open specs.
  
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* praktisch keine WLAN-Chips, die ohne proprietäre Treiber laufen (u.a., weil heutigen WLAN-Karten mit freien Treibern in gesperrten Frequenzbereichen funken könnten).
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* There are almost no WLAN chips that run without proprietary drivers. One reason for this is that free drivers would allow modern WLAN cards to broadcast in blocked frequency bands.
  
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* kaum Laptops, bei denen Power Management und alle Hardwarekomponenten mit freier Software lückenlos funktionieren, da die wenigsten Hardwarehersteller standardkonformes ACPI implementieren und proprietäre Hardware wie "WinModems" und o.g. Graphik- und WLAN-Chips verbauen.
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* There is almost no laptop with fully working power management and hardware support through free software. Most hardware manufacturers have standard-incompliant ACPI designs and use proprietary hardware components like "WinModems" or the aforementions video and WLAN chips.
  
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* durch Hardware-unterstütztes DRM und Hardware-verschlüsselte Technologien wie "secure video path"/HDMI droht eine ganze Klasse von Hardware nicht mehr unter freien Betriebssystemen lauffähig zu sein.  
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* Hardware-based DRM and hardware-encryption technologies like "secure video path"/HDMI threatens to render a whole range of hardware inoperable under free operating systems.
  
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Freie Betriebssysteme werden, notgedrungen, immer mehr zu Server-Betriebssystemen. Um massentauglich benutzbar zu sein, benötigt freie Software offen designte bzw. spezifizierte Hardware, die im Zeitalter von DMCA und DRM auszusterben droht.
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As a result, free operating system increasingly turn into mere server OSes. To be ready for mass adoption, free software needs hardware with open designs or at least open interface specifications. In the age of DMCA and DRM, such hardware seems increasingly hard to come by.
  
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Von wenigen Nischenprojekten abgesehen, gibt es jedoch noch keine breite Bewegung für offene Hardwarestandards.  
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Aside from a few small projects, there exists no large movement for open hardware standards yet.
  
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== Mögliche Referenten ==
 
  
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* [http://www.theos.com Theo de Raadt], Chefentwickler von OpenBSD und OpenSSH. Kritisiert Linux-Entwickler für ihre Akzeptanz von "Non-Disclosure-Agreements", hat Taiwanesische Hardwarehersteller zu offenen Spezifikationen überredet und dafür 2004 den "Award for the Advancement of Free Software" der Free Software Foundation erhalten.
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== Possible Speakers ==
  
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* Graham Seaman, britischer Oekonux- und freie Hardware-Aktivist
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* [http://www.theos.com Theo de Raadt], project leader of OpenBSD and OpenSSH, vocal critic of Linux driver developers for their acceptance of non-disclosure-agreements. He convinced Taiwanese hardware manufactureres to open up the specifications of their products. This earned him the "Award for the Advancement of Free Software" of the  Free Software Foundation in 2004.
  
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* [http://www.f-cpu.org F-CPU project], Entwickler eines freien CPU-Designs
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* Graham Seaman, Oekonux and free hardware activists in England.
  
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* Sun hat das Design seiner UltraSparc-CPUs freigegeben
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* [http://www.f-cpu.org F-CPU project], development project for a free CPU design.
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* Sun has published and opened up the design of its UltraSparc CPU recently.
  
  
 
== Material ==
 
== Material ==
  
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* [http://opencollector.org/Whyfree/ Graham Seamans Resourcensammlung zum Thema "Free Hardware"]
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* [http://opencollector.org/Whyfree/ Graham Seaman's collected resources on  free hardware]
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* [http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=1999-06-22-005-05-NW-LF Richard Stallman zum Thema]
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* [http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=1999-06-22-005-05-NW-LF Richard Stallman on free hardware]
  
 
Back to [[Topics_of_Panels_and_Workshops]]
 
Back to [[Topics_of_Panels_and_Workshops]]

Latest revision as of 14:35, 10 February 2006

Recently, free operating systems seem to lose ground on the desktop. Even in Linux user groups, there's a mass migration towards Mac OS X as a desktop Unix. Next to still existing gaps in user software, the main reason is increasingly problematic hardware support for laptops, WLAN and 3D video cards.

  • There is almost no video adapter on the market whose hardware acceleration is supported by free drivers. The duopoly of ATI and Nvidia thinks it gains a competetive advantage through proprietary hardware with non-open specs.
  • There are almost no WLAN chips that run without proprietary drivers. One reason for this is that free drivers would allow modern WLAN cards to broadcast in blocked frequency bands.
  • There is almost no laptop with fully working power management and hardware support through free software. Most hardware manufacturers have standard-incompliant ACPI designs and use proprietary hardware components like "WinModems" or the aforementions video and WLAN chips.
  • Hardware-based DRM and hardware-encryption technologies like "secure video path"/HDMI threatens to render a whole range of hardware inoperable under free operating systems.

As a result, free operating system increasingly turn into mere server OSes. To be ready for mass adoption, free software needs hardware with open designs or at least open interface specifications. In the age of DMCA and DRM, such hardware seems increasingly hard to come by.

Aside from a few small projects, there exists no large movement for open hardware standards yet.


Possible Speakers

  • Theo de Raadt, project leader of OpenBSD and OpenSSH, vocal critic of Linux driver developers for their acceptance of non-disclosure-agreements. He convinced Taiwanese hardware manufactureres to open up the specifications of their products. This earned him the "Award for the Advancement of Free Software" of the Free Software Foundation in 2004.
  • Graham Seaman, Oekonux and free hardware activists in England.
  • Sun has published and opened up the design of its UltraSparc CPU recently.


Material

Back to Topics_of_Panels_and_Workshops

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