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From: Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org>
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.api.misc,comp.graphics.algorithms,comp.windows.x.i386unix,gnu.misc.discuss,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.development.apps
Subject: Re: Freeware community needs 3d library NOW
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 20:19:06 -0700
Organization: Me
Lines: 45
Message-ID: <31D34F2A.3231E597@lambert.org>
References: <4qlf04$7pj@guysmiley.blarg.net> <4qmk1d$98b@newsgate.dircon.co.uk> <31D09BA1.705E3294@lambert.org> <31d25656.0@news.uni-konstanz.de>
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Pascal Gienger wrote:
]
] Terry Lambert (terry@lambert.org) wrote:
] : Ian Kemmish wrote:
] : ] People currently write device drivers for existing 2D chipsets
] : ] for these freeware platforms, so the interface details must be
] : ] available. What makes interfacing to 3D chipsets different?
] : ] If they're all going to be working to the D3D API, then surely
] : ] the situation becomes easier, not harder, than at present?
] :
] : Actually, the difference is that many 3D capable hardware vendors
] : are not publishing programming information, except under NDA.
]
] Why shouldn't hardware vendors give away programming specs of
] their hardware?
Because they believe their hardware to be protected by Trade Secret
law by virtue of non-disclosure.
] It's very idiot to produce a hardware for, say, 90% of computers
] (Windows playtools), and to prevent perhaps 5% of computer
] users to use this hardware also by giving the chance to write
] a library and/or device driver for that. I don't think a
] vendor is against raising his/her sells...
They believe that the loss of 5% of the sales lets them keep 95%
of 100% of the market instead of only 100% of 70% of the market.
] Remember: Selling hardware to non-Windows users also
] brings money...
Not enough to pay for what they believe their losses will be.
] So I don't see any reason for NDAs in this field...
Explain it to their lawyers, not to me.
Terry Lambert
terry@lambert.org
---
Any opinions in this posting are my own and not those of my present
or previous employers.