[PLUG] Two screen presentation software

[Elliott Mitchell]

>From: "Jason R. Martin" <nsxfreddy at gmail.com>
> On 10/8/05, Elliott Mitchell <ehem at m5p.com> wrote:
> > >From: "Jason R. Martin" <nsxfreddy at gmail.com>
> > > would avoid Nvidia (and ATI) altogether if I could, but the Intel
> > > graphics that come with Centrino laptops are pitiful (and usually
> > > lower resolution).  If I can ever get out of Windows today I'll
> > > experiment.
> >
> > Unfortunately for you, you've named all three of the remaining
> > non-embedded graphics chip companies. The former two are also aiming for
> > the embedded market (though a much more powerful one than the traditional
> > embedded market).
> 
> Indeed.  Perhaps I will have to support the Open Graphics Project when
> they reach the point of having something to sell.
> 
> http://lists.duskglow.com/mailman/listinfo/open-graphics

"Show me the money". I'll believe it is viable when they've actually got
hardware to sell. They'll also need an EvilOS driver as well (dual-boot
machines).

> > At least good drivers exist for the former two. The closed-source nVIDIA
> > driver works extremely well. The open-source ATi driver does 2D just
> > fine.
> 
> I did not say that the closed-source nvidia driver didn't work well, I
> have used it.  I object to it because it requires a closed source
> binary kernel module, and my personal view is that it violates the GPL
> requirements of the kernel.  Others disagree with this, and perhaps we
> will never reach a consensus on it, but the fact remains that I would
> prefer (if possible) to support a company who provides open-source
> drivers for their products.

Both have open source drivers, but those don't do anywhere near the
amount of 3D acceleration that the closed source ones do. It is quite
possible for software to do the remaining pieces, but you still lose
performance.

The generally cited reason for them being closed source is to conceal
patent violations that aren't known about. They aren't knowingly
violating patents, but there are too many landmines to risk it. The Open
Graphics folks will have to deal with this when it arises, will they
survive the experience?

> > > Ah, wish I could go back to Matrox.  Anybody know if they make a
> > > mobile version of the Millenium cards?  I'd buy that for a dollar...
> >
> > To my knowledge no one has bought Matrox yet, but I wouldn't be surprised
> > if it happens at some point here (or failing that they go bankrupt). Good
> > luck finding a laptop with a Matrox chip, the above three own the entire
> > market now. Unless someone has a stockpile of them they're selling off
> > you're unlikely to find a new Matrox chip in the next couple years.
> 
> I think Matrox still has a foothold in the workstation market, since
> they pretty much specialize in dual/triple-head displays with strong
> 2D graphics for photo/video editing.  I guess they have PCIe Parhelia
> stuff now, which I didn't know about until today.  I assumed they
> hadn't added anything that wasn't AGP.

Where did you see mention of a PCIe Parhelia? The Parhelia looked to be
a failure, slower and much more expensive than anything out of ATi or
nVIDIA. If they really do still have a foothold in the workstation
market, I'd hazard a guess that it is mostly folks who say "no one was
ever fired for buying Matrox". There aren't any Matrox chips I consider
viable on their own merits unless three displays really is a crucial
feature to you.


>From: "M. Edward (Ed) Borasky" <znmeb at cesmail.net>
> Keith Lofstrom wrote:
> >Most modern laptops have two complete video generation systems;  it
> >is possible to display one image on the laptop screen,  and send an
> >entirely different image out the VGA/DVI port to the projector.  A
> >next-generation presentation program could make good use of this
> >capability.
> >
> I was not aware of that ... I'll take a look at my Compaq Presario.

Neither ATi nor nVIDIA make any chips that can handle less than two heads
at this point. There are some laptops and cards where this ability is
disabled, but they *all* support two monitors. Apple did manage to
thoroughly disable it on their iBooks with nVIDIA chips, but nVIDIA never
made a laptop chip without the ability. By contrast a simple OpenFirmware
program can reenable it on iBooks with ATi chips.


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