I own a Lenovo Thinkpad X200s with Intel GMA X4500 series graphics chip that I wanted to use with an additional monitor for some time. Because this chipset is quite new, it didn’t perform well in gNewSense 2.1 which is based on Ubuntu Hardy. So I settled with the then just released Debian Lenny because it was stable and easy to free. (I just needed to replace the kernel with a Linux-libre build, Iceweasel with GNU IceCat and stick to the main repo.)
With the recent news of beta releases from Fedora and Ubuntu, I decided to see how far the graphics support has come. So, I downloaded live ISO images of Fedora 11 Beta and Ubuntu 9.04 “Jaunty Jackalope” Beta and created bootable USB images with FUSBi.
Fedora supported kernel mode-setting and booted in the new flickerless boot sequence. I could enable 3D graphics without trouble. However, it didn’t support a dual monitor setup out-of-the-box.
Ubuntu Jaunty, on the other hand, supported my dual monitor setup. However, there was significant tearing in video playback and no 3D support.
Since all of my hardware (including on-board graphics and Atheros-based wireless networking adapter) relies on free software, the results should be same if I were to replace both distributions’ kernels with completely free ones.
The support for my graphics chip certainly seems to have improved significantly over the last months, but it’s far from being complete. I wish Intel would have cared more about providing free software support for its graphics chipset series that have been widely distributed for about a year now.
On a side note, spending some time on these standard GNOME environments made me realize how much I have been relying on my tiling window manager of choice for speedy window management.
4 Comments
Hi uncle.
I wouldn’t say that following only those steps would make debian a fully libre distribution.
I would not suggest you to spread this idea.
The problem with debian is that, despite the social contract and their three repositories, they didn’t put enough attention to many issues.
One of them (now solved) was the proprietary sgi glx code. It was non free but was included in the default debian distribution for a LONG time and they didn’t bother to correct the problem.
Another issue is the Debian Iceweasel one.
Iceweasel is a web browser that suggests non free plugins.
When Giuseppe Scrivano proposed them to use GNU IceCat instead of Iceweasel they refused.
GNU IceCat is a web browser based on firefox but don’t suggest non free plugins or addons.
This is why, despite all the efforts of debian guys, I don’t believe the “debian libre” story.
Maybe at the beginning they were really interested about digital freedom but nowadays they are no more.
People out there, want to use a distribution that REALLY respects your freedom?
Stop believing the hype and look here: http://www.gnu.org/links/links.html#FreeGNULinuxDistributions
@Graziano
There is no hype to believe or a “debian libre” conspiracy to be found in my post and it’s not about Debian as a project or organization.
Freeing a Debian installation is a very straight forward process that involves not changing the project developers’ politics (with which I obviously do not agree) but creating a Free Software-only installation *on my computer*. Listing the software components I already removed is not productive in this context. (However, it would be productive in a platform where the Debian Project as an organization is discussed.)
I would be very interested to know if there are any other non-free bits left on my computer after the steps I described are followed. However, if you don’t have such a suggestion, please don’t come up with accusations about me with no solid points relevant to what I wrote.
I wonder if it’s possible to make a tool(or if something similar already exists) that scans for executable files and libraries, does a hash of these, then compares them to a known-free-software database of file names, file sizes, and hashes(md5,sha1 or whatever). That way it would be possible to scan for non-free software so it can be removed.
I was trying to think of some accusations to level at the OP but I can find none…so I’ll be back when I think of something.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=intel_g45_dump
It seems like Intel heard my cries
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