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List:       opensuse
Subject:    Re: [opensuse] ATI question
From:       "David C. Rankin" <drankinatty () suddenlinkmail ! com>
Date:       2009-05-08 5:22:19
Message-ID: 4A03C18B.8040809 () suddenlinkmail ! com
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Felix Miata wrote:
> On 2009/05/07 10:11 (GMT+0200) Roger Oberholtzer composed:
> 
>> OK. Perhaps ATI wins the 132 column race. But how many of their
>> customers bought things like FireGL cards for that express purpose? I am
>> guessing most did so for faster graphics. And 3D hardware support.
> 
> Some people just buy computers, and use whatever video comes in them.
> 
>> Also, as useful as I am sure it is to be able to run DOS apps, I am
>> interested in running Linux apps. Like Compiz.
> 
> For me a computer is a tool, not a toy. I don't think I've ever failed to
> uncheck the desktop effects checkbox during installation.
> 
> My display has only two functional dimensions. No one has ever demonstrated
> to me how pretending it has 3 helps me get my work done better or faster,
> while it is clear that 3D is anything but fully supported no matter what
> hardware is on hand.
> 

Felix,

	You are probably using an LCD display, The 3rd dimension to monitors has
practically disappeared in the past 4-5 years. It's still there, just smaller;-)

	Here I have somewhat mixed emotions about your sentiments on unchecking the
desktop effects box. Granted, once I was running Lotus Magellan on DOS 4.1, I
too thought "why bother with desktop effects, I can do everything from right here."

	But despite my reservations, we moved to a graphical environment and found
that it offered some real advantages over the year. Then new gee whiz things
started finding there way onto the desktop, and still "ho, hum..." But again,
we waded into the water to find, "Hey, some of this stuff is useful too" And
then video cards got faster and new tools evolved -- same water.

	The problem/benefit now is there is some really useful stuff out there that
relies on the advanced features of the gfxcard/driver combination. Compiz
Fusion is one of the fantastic apps that really provides a great deal of
extension to core desktop functionality -- and is one of the real benefits
provided by Novell funding part of the project.

	I couldn't give a RAT (short for Rat's Ass Tail) about painting fire on my
screen or watching snow on my display (hell it took 10 years to get rid of the
snow on VGA, who wants more), but many of the effects (opacity, rotate, expo
and scale to mention a few) really bring new functionality to the desktop that
dramatically allow new users to intuitively handle multiple desktops, etc.. Not
to mention reflection & deformations, wobbly, shift switcher, application
switcher and crash handler are pretty cool too ;-)

	Thus the ATI driver conundrum. All of this is lost without a functional fglrx
driver. Yes, a display will never be more that 2D no matter how hard they try
[1], but some of the water that has been waded into has pretty much become a
standard part of expected desktop functionality...

Footnote [1]: with slight qualification depending upon string theory and/or
proof of existence of the Higgs Boson... See:
http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2009/04/higgs-boson-found.html;
publication date April "1", 2009.


-- 
David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E.
Rankin Law Firm, PLLC
510 Ochiltree Street
Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
Telephone: (936) 715-9333
Facsimile: (936) 715-9339
www.rankinlawfirm.com
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