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Re:Could EU force hardware manufacturers to make working dri... by thomastjeffery on Sunday October 01, 2023 @03:11PM (#37729422)
Of course your hardware would come with software installed! That software would simply be written by a separate company.

We already do this! HP didn't write Windows, but they sure as hell sell laptops with Windows preinstalled.

Re:Could EU force hardware manufacturers to make working dri... by kanbara on Monday October 02, 2023 @02:19AM (#37734575)
vendor sw (hp, samsung, htc, gateway, dell) is some of the worst sw i’ve ever experienced.

i want safari, mail, and messages tyvm

Re:Could EU force hardware manufacturers to make working dri... by thomastjeffery on Monday October 02, 2023 @09:50AM (#37738082)
Vendor software is the result of hardware companies attempting vertical integration.

Get rid of vertical integration, and the software job will be given to someone capable.

Re:Could EU force hardware manufacturers to make working dri... by chme on Monday October 02, 2023 @11:51PM (#37747766)
I still don't get how that would solve the issue of having no linux drivers.

Lets say I create a new GPU IP core, i give it to a third-party chip manifactorer to produce it, then that delivers it to a fourth-party to burn a privat key into the fuses, then a fifth party signs its firmware with that key, which contains checks that Windows is running in secure boot mode with Microsoft keys. And then it is sold to the end user via a distributor, which did't do any other work on it.

How would preventing a 'vertical' integration forbid that?

I would rather just regulate that users should be given the full specs and possibility to use their own keys, to allow them to run their own software on/with it without any feature gates to the hardware. This can be argued for as a right to repair or as giving devices a second life and thus reducing electronic waste.

Your rule would likely make the work of smaller companies and startups more difficult, if they have to hire a third-party to write the software. A solo dev might has to create two companies in order to create one product, that seems painful. I guess a lot of OSH projects would not be possible with that rule.