[NCLUG] Re: Ubuntu sound problems--Installfest question

[Bob Proulx]

Chad Perrin wrote:
> > Bob Proulx wrote:
> > > danbob wrote:
> > > > AU31 motherboard, with NVidia built in video and sound. Used to be an
> > > > eMachine I think.
> > > 
> > > My usual solution to this type of problem is to disable onboard audio
> > > and install a SoundBlaster Live! PCI card.  It often just isn't worth
> > > the frustration of trying to make an unyielding onboard device work.
> > 
> > My usual solution, when I don't have extra sound cards lying around, is
> > to try something a bit more tractable when it comes to sound
> > configuration.
> 
> Err . . . that wasn't clear.  I meant "try an OS that's a bit more
> tractable when it comes to sound configuration".  Like . . . a different
> distro, for instance.

GNU/Linux distros all use the Linux kernel.  (By definition!)  This
makes the choice of distros based upon hardware a level playing field.
They are all basically using the same kernel.

Of course there are some differences in kernel due to the politics of
licensing.  At different rates the non-free drivers are getting
stripped out of the Linux kernel.  Some distros are at different
versions and may have a nonfree driver while another may have it
stripped out while another may have done something special to add it.
Linus Torvalds and other kernel hackers have come down pretty hard on
non-free drivers lately.  But in general everyone who is running
GNU/Linux is running a very similar Linux kernel and I wouldn't
consider it a good reason to choose one distro over another.  Within
the set of free drivers for supported hardware.  And I advocate not
using the non-free drivers and I am willing to buy hardware
specifically with free driver support in mind.

In summary, it is all the same if you are using free drivers and if
you are not then you should.

I am being very specific about saying Linux here since I know Chad is
very much a BSD advocate and my interpretation of what he is saying is
to move to BSD.  My interpretation in mine alone and might be wrong.

Bob