this wa referring to people saying that the public gets Community while the paid people get Official
Official is free to download tooo

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Those open source "drivers" which you also cite are included by Mandrake but are not written by them as is the case with most of the included applications.

the point is the Nvidia card and ATI cards are fully functional and Mandrake soft are not crippling the end user

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As I've previously stated, Mandrake is shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak by adopting this crazy tactic when it comes to drivers.

Really??? does microsoft windows
you know that piece of plastic that costs $300+
does that come with NVIDIA and ATI drivers???
NO!!!!!
there is definetly some legal barrier that prevents them from bundling the third party software

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They ruin the newbie experience and make their distribution look more cumbersome than it actually is, to someone who decides to try things out via the download editions.

Ever seen someone struggle for days to get Medal of Honour to work on windows XP???
they need to download and extra 30meg proprietory Drviers from NVIDIA/ATI site to play open GL
how is that different from linux????

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The think is, ultimately I sympathize with them and want them to succeed... but this driver business is stupidity.

i reiterate the point MS doesnt include such third party components either
despite the improved performance.

Lol!

This exactly what they are doing though with the ATI and NVIDIA RPM's.

And they do not pay ATI or NVIDIA royalties for it's inclusion.

Not true.

Perform an XP install one either an Nvidia or ATI equipped system and you'll find an NVIDIA or ATI driver installed for you. These drivers are not written by Microshaft.

In both cases you can install the missing applets seperately and get the same control panel functions with Microsoft's included drivers that ATI's or NVIDIA's give you.

Point of fact Microshaft includes a veritble boatload of 3rd party drivers, including those from HP, EPSON, etc.

They merely select those that they have put through the testing process...

Ok, though I haven't check the latest download "Official" (I paid...) does Official Download also include the ATI, NVIDA & other RPM's?

I have seen numerous computer noobs have trouble using OPEN GL games in windows XP.
Stupid game is broken (you need to download the NVIDIA drivers for your geforce card)
done solved

as windows detects and installs MS bundled drivers (they dont support OPENGL)
"NVIDIA may make them but they are always labeled (manufacturer Microsoft)


they don't realise that. you need to use the official ATI(NVIDIA drivers

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In both cases you can install the missing applets seperately and get the same control panel functions with Microsoft's included drivers that ATI's or NVIDIA's give you.

HAve you ever actually installed Windows???
i've used at least 10 different!!!!! versions of windows XP 2k3 and 2000 vanilla and service pack editions.
(only a custom built XP cd i made include openGL support)

none of the below cards ive had in time and done fresh installs could run SOF2 of MOHAA without the drivers from their site.
ATI radeon 9600XT
Geforce 4 mx440
geforce 2 MX100
and TNT2 m64

Each install, windows supplied it's own drivers.
none of which ever included configuration tools or OPENGL support.
they are bare bones drivers to allow display and high resolution.
THATS IT!!!! multiple display wasnt supported either , and TV out doesnt work

(multiple display works on mine with the mandrake included nv drivers)


either way you still have to download and install something else
so it isnt the ordeal your making it out to be

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Point of fact Microshaft includes a veritble boatload of 3rd party drivers, including those from HP, EPSON, etc. They merely select those that they have put through the testing process...

they are also closed source drivers which are not covered be the GNU and GPL licences.
all the drivers bar the 3rd party in mandrake are reverse engineered and open source.

none of us know the truth Mandrake Soft may have a nuetral agreement with NVIDIA ATI to be permitted to include these drivers. or they are doing it iilegally.
either way
No other freely downloadable Linux or paid Windows distro includes fully functional 3d accelleration, customisable settings (anti alliasing etc) and OpenGL drivers.

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Ok, though I haven't check the latest download "Official" (I paid...) does Official Download also include the ATI, NVIDA & other RPM's?

no they still take out 10 - 50 rpms
ATI, Nvidia and adobe acrobat are included

only you can tell us i only have the public official installers
but i wanna buy 10.1 powerpack dvd soon
no reason other then they deserve the money
i dont need to reinstall so one time install of NVIDIA.run is no big deal.