Re: OT: Seeking Advice on Purchasing a Laptop
On Sat, 2012-11-24 at 11:02 +1100, Zenaan Harkness wrote:
> On 11/24/12, Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Vi, 23 nov 12, 07:25:29, Nate Bargmann wrote:
> >> * On 2012 23 Nov 05:43 -0600, Andrei POPESCU wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Thinkpad. Avoid ATI graphics if possible.
> >>
> >> Why?
> >
> > The free driver seems to be good, but low performance. I've had issues
> > with the non-free driver.
> >
> > If you don't care about performance Intel chips will serve you just as
> > good (and probably be cheaper). If you need maximum performance Nvidia
> > with the non-free driver is better in my experience.
>
> Better in performance, I can't speak to.
>
> Better in freedom, it is not.
Dogmas are stupid. I'm using an ATI with the open source driver, but
I've got a NVIDIA at hand and if needed I would use the NVIDIA with the
proprietary driver. Using my ATI with it's proprietary driver doesn't
work. Proprietary ATI drivers only work for some versions of X, then
they stop support for a card. The user needs to buy a new ATI graphics
or has to use the open source driver. NVIDIA cards are better supported.
3D acceleration is provided by the open source drivers for ATI and
NVIDIA and nowadays even nouveau seldom is an issue any more, just in
some cases nouveau, the open source NVIDIA driver still does cause
issues, OTOH the proprietary drivers in some cases could cause issues
too.
I experienced Intel as to expensive for my purse, so I don't have
experiences with Intel, I never noticed that Intel is cheaper.
IMO NVIDIA is the best way to go in most cases.
For something like Google Earth there's no difference in the
performance, when using open source drivers or proprietary drivers.
Regards,
Ralf
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