[geeks] Solaris 10 download questions

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

Patrick Giagnocavo wrote:

> Are you sure there isn't a freeware Rhine driver (third party)?  Or
> maybe that is just for Rhine I series?

Having NOT worked with VIA I can understand why there may not be a driver.

They generaly lie about specifications, usually related to heat and 
performance. They also will refuse to give you information about their
chips unless you sign an agreement to work with them. Not the usual NDA,
but what they call a "strategic partnership". 

For example, I was working on a handheld linux device. Since they have a
"strategic partnership" with the now all but defunct Ministry of Mobile
Afairs (yes, that is the name of the company) to design the VIA X86
Mobile Gaming Platform (formerly known as the "Eve"), they refused to
work with anyone else.

We could not even get up to date Linux drivers from them. All they would
give us is object code only versions which would work on a specific Linux
Kernel which was almost impossible to find.

Meanwhile AMD was wonderful, even lending us test versions of new chips.

We did not approach Intel because of the price of their chips, however in
the past they were very forthcoming with specs and source code.

Bottom line, if you want drivers for something besides Windows XP, 
don't buy VIA chips.

Geoff.

-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem Israel gsm at mendelson.com 
IL Voice: 972-544-608-069  IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 
I may be an old fart, but I'm a high-tech, up to date old fart. :-)