On Sun, Apr 08, 2007 at 03:40:31PM -0400, Andrew J. Barr wrote: > Andrew M.A. Cater wrote: > >On Sun, Apr 08, 2007 at 07:44:13PM +0100, andy wrote: > >>Hello > >> > >>I have, since installing Etch, been downloading packages with regard for > >>functionality and because I wanted that program, rather than focusing on > >>whether or not that package was non-free or free (with respect to the > >>Debian commitment to free software). > >> > >>I am curious about the packages I currently have installed that aren't > >>free (I know about the w32codecs and the flashplayer-plugin, for > >>example). Is there a way of auditing this? > >> > > I would also point out that the Debian definition of free software isn't > necessarily authoritative. You are welcome to disagree and use a package > without any moral qualms (if you believe that using free software is > moral). For example, I do not agree with the exclusion of things like > fonts, firmware, and some other program data from main -- but the beauty > of Debian is that these things are still available to us even though the > project feels they aren't free. For example, the non-free Broadcom > wireless firmware was a few clicks away for me by simply installing the > bcm43xx-fwcutter package from contrib. Voila--instant wireless on my > PowerBook. Not 30 seconds after installing that package, my home > wireless network showed up in the NetworkManager icon. You don't even > have to search Google for the Windows driver. Now if they could only > figure out some way to do something similar for the Intel Centrino radios... > > Andrew > It's been done - but you have to go to the SourceForge site to get the firmware - which requires you to sign an Intel licence agreement - and then put this in /lib/firmware or some such: firmware version may be dependent on kernel/tools version. Then the equivalent Intel drivers also work - I've a Thinkpad next door using ipw2200 drivers very nicely thanks. The latest ipw3945 drivers are even more free, as I understand it, and firmware may be more freely distributable IIRC.
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