Tell Intel What You Think

This Undeadly.org thread clued me in to the problems OpenBSD is having getting documentation and firmware restribution rights for Intel wireless NICs. Theo's letter is not what I would want an Intel decision-maker to read. However, Kenneth J Hendrickson's comment is exactly what I used as a template for an email to Intel's point of contact on this manner -- majid [dot] awad [at] intel [dot] com.

As a FreeBSD user, I recognize that drivers for Linux are not going to help me use my wireless cards. This Slashdot comment explains key points as well.

If you want to use Intel NICs with native drivers, send an email like the one Kenneth sent (but not a duplicate -- explain the situation in your own words). I just did.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I don't like Theo's message either, however I do see why he talks the way he does. He and the OpenBSD group are working hard to produce an operating system of high quality and OpenBSD attests to to that. Unfortunately, vendors like Intel LIE repeatedly and the majority of the open source community tends to believe them. That can be very frustrating. Linux distros and FreeBSD support this and other sorts f "bad" behaviour by allowing binary "blobs" in their products.


However, in the end...you can't be rude.
5:28 PM
Anonymous said…
Sure you can, when you've been spit on for a few months it's time to either get rude or give up. Theo doesn't give up until after the being rude part, and even then, it takes almost half a year of negotiations and civil discussion before he gets to the rude part. We're here at the end of a full release's worth of development time feeling the full brunt of his frustration at Intel being a bunch of lying jerkoffs.

Most FreeBSD developers seem to want OpenBSD to bend over and thank Intel for the ride, but I'm glad OpenBSD developers have some balls amongst them. http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/src/share/man/man4/nfe.4.diff?r1=1.2&r2=1.3&f=h shows just how big FreeBSD's balls are.
5:56 PM
Anonymous said…
This shows how alot of ultra talented engineers tend to fail at being project or business leaders as their emotions often affect their tactfulness.

-Greg
3:02 PM
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