*BSD News Article 64821


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From: alex@darkstar.ping.at (Alexander Sanda)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.apps,comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.os.linux.x,comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Why to not buy Matrox Millennium
Followup-To: comp.os.linux.development.apps,comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.os.linux.x,comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Date: 1 Apr 1996 16:38:34 GMT
Organization: STYX
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References: <4j6msk$ho@darkstar.my.lan> <DovMp4.765@cogsci.ed.ac.uk> <4jn4qp$6p@darkstar.my.lan> <stephenkDp5xr1.69v@netcom.com>
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In article <stephenkDp5xr1.69v@netcom.com>
Stephen Knilans (stephenk@netcom.com) wrote:

> >As you wrote - maybe. But don't forget: linux is not a mainstream OS.
> >This is also true for other (free or commercial) unices. And all those
> >DOS/Win/OS/2 users have no reason to complain, because they are
> >getting their drivers (for free).
> 
> How do YOU know that the DOS/WIN/OS/2 users are getting drivers for free?
> How do you know they CAN get them?  What of WIN 96, 97,98?  What of dos 8?
> What of OS/2 4.0?  They don't exist yet, you say?  THAT is the POINT!  And
> what of TODAYS DOS game or CAD program that may not work?  
> 
> It ISN'T cut and dry!

For this point - it is. _My_ millenium came with a lot of drivers for
Win3.x, Win95, NT, OS/2 (2.11, Warp), AutoCad etc. DOS Games are
causing no troubles with this board.

Believe me, I know it, because I know a lot of people not using linux,
and they are all very happy with the millenium.

> >Let's assume, that 10% of all linux users think about getting a matrox
> >card. Now assume, that _all_ those people boycott matrox (which won't
> >happen), because there is no free driver support. Even this scenario
> >won't be a great loss for matrox. 
> >
> >This sounds disappointing, but it's reality :-(

> AH, the LIBERAL way of thinking!  NOW, let's add a little REALITY, shall we?
> Let's assume that many of those linux users are high end users(likely, given
> the nature of the beast), and that they have friends/acquaintances/business 
> associates/bosses/people under them.  ALL the above groups may decide NOT to
> buy matrox!  Also assume that they may spread the word through some means.
> Let's take an off the wall example, shall we?  maybe the INTERNET, and spread
> the word about MATROXes bad support.  I GUARANTEE, that if linux users were 10%
> of the market, that at LEAST 50% of the market will hear of it!

Maybe, but you forgot, that even 50% of your 50% will ignore it,
because they'll never use an unsupported system. If you want a really
fast and powerful graphics board, then it's hard to ignore matrox
products.

If somebody (who is a typical Win-user) asks me about a cool graphics
card, and I respond with: "The matrox is the fastest board, it's
rather cheap, but please don't buy It, because you'll get no
linux-drivers", what do you think, he will answer ?

regards
-- 
A. Sanda
Vienna, Austria                              
email: alex@darkstar.ping.at                      powered by Linux  
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