Asus posts more Eee source code to comply with the GPL

While we're certain Linux fans will continue to pore over every aspect of the Eee's Xandros distro to make sure Asus remains in compliance with the GPL, it looks like the company is doing its best to make amends by posting the source to the Asus_ACPI module that kicked off the controversy in the first place. The module's code was not originally included in the 1.8GB source .zip Asus had made available, but it's now chilling out on Asus' public FTP server -- we're certain three of you are absolutely thrilled.

[Candle @ Nov 26th 2007 2:41PM]

I do want one of these.

[Justin @ Nov 26th 2007 2:45PM]

What's with posters here being so insultingly dismissive of things they don't care about lately, and, by extension, the people who care about those things? If a poster doesn't care about a subject, he--or she, I guess, not that I remember a woman ever writing for Engadget--should pass it on to someone who does. If no one does, you have a hole in your staff that needs to be filled.

"[W]e're certain three of you are absolutely thrilled." Good for you. I'm glad you have to cut someone else's legs off to make yourself feel taller.

And no, before you jump on me, I really don't care that much about Eee or Xandros, but that doesn't mean I think it's okay to act like the people who do should be belittled for it.

[Nilay Patel @ Nov 26th 2007 2:59PM]

Actually, I've written quite extensively on the benefits of open source, and I've published law review articles on how open source licenses are actually promoting IP enforcement in developing nations. So it's not really that I don't care about these issues, it's that this seemed fairly trivial to me, especially now that it's been resolved.

[Ghen @ Nov 26th 2007 3:07PM]

So neener neener carabiner.

[bob sakamano @ Nov 26th 2007 3:10PM]

Calm down.

They are joking.

[Justin @ Nov 26th 2007 3:25PM]

I know it's a joke, but I guess I just don't get it. When I think something's good, I say, "This is good, and here's why." I don't add to it that nobody cares, because then--surprise!--nobody will care.

I guess my initial reaction was wrong about Nilay, but I still don't quite understand why he decided to write what he did.

[Mike @ Nov 26th 2007 3:45PM]

Well, joke or not, Justin has a point. If you've taken a course in mass media studies then you should be familiar with cultivation theory (although I'm no expert either).

By reinforcing how trivial the issue is (and how no one cares), people, especially those will little experience in the field of open source (in this case), will adopt the general understanding that it is trivial, and thus not care.

Of course this is just one little comment, but the theory covers a larger scope where all elements become significant.

So it may be a joke, and I'm not saying you did anything bad or not, but its something to consider.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivation_theory
(the article is based on tv violence, but the theory is applicable to many things)

[Justin @ Nov 26th 2007 4:05PM]

That's exactly the idea I was trying to put forth. There have been plenty of times that people have done this sort of thing intentionally. I won't say that Nilay did that (and considering he supports open source initiatives, I can't see why he would), but I guess I've just seen it so many times with respect to completely different subjects that I'm kind of sensitive to it now.

[Grindboy @ Nov 27th 2007 4:31PM]

The 3 of us! I personally would love to see you keep the internet going without the millions of linux based servers that are being used. I'd be willing to bet that your own servers are linux based due to its reliability. So next time show a little respect for open source developers.

[Matt Zh @ Nov 27th 2007 6:00PM]

I agree. He/She didn't even get the link right.

[Kyle P. @ Nov 26th 2007 2:45PM]

Hey, I'm happy about it. If they're gonna work with GNU/Linux, they gotta follow the GPL. Plain and simple. And I'm very glad that they are now!

[linux bro @ Nov 26th 2007 2:49PM]

Woooooooo! Linux party, my place. Be there.

[Citizen024 @ Nov 26th 2007 3:26PM]

wheres the party @? (since, unfortunately it seems i wont be able to attend dreamhack)

[Josh @ Nov 26th 2007 2:47PM]

pore = pour?

[Jeff Couch @ Nov 26th 2007 2:57PM]

pore
–verb (used without object), pored, por·ing.
1.to read or study with steady attention or application: a scholar poring over a rare old manuscript.
2.to gaze earnestly or steadily: to pore over a painting.
3.to meditate or ponder intently (usually fol. by over, on, or upon): He pored over the strange events of the preceding evening.

[Alevino @ Nov 26th 2007 2:47PM]

I have mine...Works fine!!! A-must-have (And with XP SP2 and Office - badlylightened `course - running smoothly)

[Marcos @ Nov 26th 2007 2:48PM]

Everyone should be happy, not just the "three of you" that will actually look, modify, compile the code.
These "three of you" are making everyone a favor by ensuring companies comply with GPL. Everyone benefits because ASUS enhancements to the code make it back to the world and others can build on them. More and better products come out and we all benefit, not just the "three of you".

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:37PM]

Exactly. Now that Asus has released the ACPI code, more Linux distributions can benefit from the experience of the manufacturer in creating ACPI compliant software. They now have a vendor created blueprint to improve and model from.

[Ypoknons @ Nov 26th 2007 2:53PM]

Meh. It's not like the OS is the Eee's competitive advantage anyways. That lies in form factor and cost, so releasing the source shouldn't be a big deal.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:35PM]

It must be nice living in your imaginary world.

[Allan @ Nov 26th 2007 2:54PM]

As annoying as it may be for such a minority to really care that the code wasn't included and put up such a crap about it... it's cool to see a company actually follow through (in a reasonable time frame, no less).

Way to go Asus.

[FrisbeeBen @ Nov 26th 2007 2:59PM]

....but will it blend?

[Kyle Kersh @ Nov 26th 2007 3:19PM]

I lol'd here .

[ethana2 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:29PM]

....yeaahhhh...

That wasn't the issue. This is power management we're talking about, not GPU drivers.

[ark_v2 @ Nov 26th 2007 6:05PM]

...I don't know but will you?

[epimetheus @ Nov 26th 2007 3:01PM]

Engadget's stance isn't really surprising, considering their love affair with Apple. Open source is just for ridiculing and stealing code from.

After all, who cares if wrecking the GPL system means fewer goodies for all down the road? Only the end users and devs...

[ethana2 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:34PM]

I have noticed that whenever something is windows-only, they apologize to the mac users... but not us penguins.

I would be content to be included in those apologies, you know, have my existence recognized; a nod of the head.

Even if you just want to say something like 'Free *nix users', to include the BSD and OpenSolaris folks, I'm good.

[Marcos @ Nov 27th 2007 11:13AM]

I thought Apple opened the Mac OS X low-level OS (Darwin) including Mach, release the Quicktime streaming server as open source, released a full implementation of Zeroconf networking (Bonjour) as open source, made big improvements to KDE's Konqueror (as WebKit), and just released an open source CalDAV server implementation.

I don't think Apple is against open source, like you claim, epimetheus... I think you are misinformed.

[TK @ Nov 26th 2007 3:08PM]

I'm with FrisbeeBen....

also, they need to release a 10 inch touchscreen version... I'd probably pay upwards of $500 for it! lol.

[Rollins @ Nov 26th 2007 3:17PM]

Any luck on obtaining the source to the WiFi driver yet? It'd be nice to be able to use WiFi in other Linux distros without ndiswrapper or hacking the kernel.

[ethana2 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:31PM]

Unless you have a WiFi device with the same chipset at least, 'the driver' this uses will probably be worthless to /you/.

Wireless support in general is getting better by the day, thankfully.

[kanzi @ Nov 27th 2007 1:47PM]

@ethana2

I think Rollins is talking about installing other linux distros on the Eee itself, not on other boxen.

[kristofer brozio @ Nov 26th 2007 3:18PM]

YAY! Is everyone happy now? Can we all play nice now? Is this over? oh wait every single byte of code hasn't been scoured yet for any errors, so i doubt this is far from over...

[Z @ Nov 26th 2007 3:49PM]

ACPI has been under development and generally screwed up anyway (my experience).

That's probably how it came to light. Someone got an Eee, figured out that this distro handled a laptop better than most distros out there, and went "Holy Crap! ACPI works! What have they not told the rest of us!"

Of course, there is my alternate theory that Ballmer's stirring up the whole furor anyway.

[Ethan @ Nov 26th 2007 5:08PM]

See? It was just a little screwup on their part. No malice here.

[Synergy6 @ Nov 26th 2007 7:09PM]

"By reinforcing how trivial the issue is (and how no one cares), people, especially those will little experience in the field of open source (in this case), will adopt the general understanding that it is trivial, and thus not care."

Which, as the issue actually is trivial and not worth a moment's notice, makes sense.

[mark cox @ Nov 26th 2007 7:51PM]

I'm afraid i couldn't agree more with the comment
"By reinforcing how trivial the issue is (and how no one cares), people, especially those will little experience in the field of open source (in this case), will adopt the general understanding that it is trivial, and thus not care."

Everyone reaps the benefits of open source, and there is nothing trivial about theft, you wouldn't steal a pencil from a store and dismiss it cuz it's small, the store detective doesn't care about the value.

[John Markos O'Neill @ Nov 26th 2007 11:29PM]

I've been thinking about buying an Eee PC, but I would certainly not buy one if I knew Asus were violating the GPL. Regardless of how many people actually use the source code that they post, it's important that Asus comply with the license. As Marcos points out, everyone benefits. And Asus benefits from the potential business of people like me, who may not actually download the source code but who care that they comply with the GPL.

[ilh @ Nov 27th 2007 3:58AM]

It's not just about the GPL people. The ACPI module has caused problems with other distros of linux being installed. Now with it being open source we should be able to get suspend working properly. Wifi as well is another issue for other distros as we've not had the drivers for that without going to windows drivers using ndiswrapper.

[Greg @ Nov 28th 2007 3:00AM]

I'm thinking of buying an Eee, and it makes some difference to me to know if Asus is doing the right thing. (So count me one of the 3, dismissive Engadget writer.)

[Kyle @ Dec 21st 2007 4:05AM]

i don't understand how this could be looked at as a trivial issue. the eee pc is good enough harddware wise but if you know what your doing your going to want to knock that distribution straight off and get yourself something better. why shouldnt we be able to do that while maintaining all the features of the laptop, just because asus decide not to comply with the gpl