Bug#129837: System Hardware Requirements misleading
Package: install-doc
Version: 3.0.19
Severity: minor
Section 2.6.1 of the Installation Manual for i386 talks about
avoiding hardware for which the vendor refuses to provide
information that would allow drivers to be developed or released
under an open-source license. The example given is "the IBM
laptop DSP sound system used in recent ThinkPad systems". This
is now out-of-date information and to continue to cite it is
both misleading and does an injustice to IBM which has become a
significant supporter of Linux and Open Source in general.
While it is true that IBM did for several years produce ThinkPads
using a proprietary ("MWave") DSP which handled both sound and
modem functionality, the company ceased using this chipset around
two years ago ('99). The last ThinkPad models to use it were the
770 and 600 series. Even while these ThinkPads were still being
sold, Linux drivers for their MWave chipset became available,
from IBM, under an open source license. (These drivers can be
found at <URL:http://oss.software.ibm.com/acpmodem>).
These days, IBM ThinkPads typically use Crystal audio chipsets,
which are well supported both by OSS and Alsa, and Lucent modem
chipsets which, although they are examples of the reviled "WinModem"
variety, at least do have Linux drivers, as numerous success stories
at <URL:http://www.linux-laptop.net> testify.
Perhaps you'd consider updating this section to choose a different
example (of which there must be all too many), and maybe also point
out that the development and release of the IBM MWave drivers for
Linux is a good example of how lobbying for release of this
information can actually yield results.
Mark Scott IBM United Kingdom, Basingstoke, UK
+44 1256 343529 mes@uk.ibm.com
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