List: linux-video Subject: [video4linux] The ATI Problem From: matthew.mellon () cp ! Novartis ! com Date: 1998-11-05 20:25:35 Hello. This is my first appearance on this list. I am one of those idiots who bought an ATI Bt829 All-in-Wonder and can't get drivers for any OS except Windows9x/NT. Question: If I get a SCSI DVD-ROM, can I use the decoder on my All-in-Wonder or will I need to buy a separate board? I would like to share the response I got from ATI after I complained. Thanks, Matt Mellon ---Message received 11-4-98 15:46:34.78 --- Matthew, We have made ATI Technical Support management aware of your concerns. I am not sure where they will be able to go with this as I do not believe that are able to offer refunds. They will address this with the representatives involved via training. At this time the low level information and support necessary to develop TV Tuner drivers for Linux are not available as you have discovered. ATI has much confidential information that we will not release except in a complied form as well as some third party information that we also may not make public in regards to the tv tuner side of the board. We are working with a 3rd party to develop something that may be used in Linux but it will be some time before this is ready for release and the release will not be under ATI control. I apologize for the issues you found when attempting to investigate the available support. We have forwarded your suggestion for the box and Technical Support is looking into updating their web site with more concise information. Regards, Michael Smith ATI Developer Relations devrel@atitech.ca ---------- From: matthew.mellon@cp.Novartis.com[SMTP:matthew.mellon@cp.Novartis.com] Sent: Monday, November 02, 1998 12:11 PM To: devrel@atitech.ca Subject: ATI's refusal to support the brooktree/philips video processor/tuner components of their graphics adapters in UNIX environments Dear sir or madam, I am a Research Systems technician at Novartis Crop Protection, Inc. In Greensboro, NC. We have been pleased with the overall performance of your products through the years; we have been fortunate to have had ATI graphics cards in all of our PC's purchased through Gateway 2000. We have worked with products containing the Graphics Ultra (Mach8), Mach32, and Mach 64/Rage/Rage II+ and Rage Pro chipsets. I am very disappointed by your refusal to release drivers or low-level programming information for your video processors and tuners for non-Microsoft OS's. I bought an ATI All-in-Wonder 4MB ($149) exclusively for the purpose of veiwing video content on my Linux-based PC. Your tech support page has a rather encouraging note: "A large number of ATI graphics products are installed and are well regarded in the UNIX community although ATI does not offer drivers or technical support for any form of UNIX. ATI has achieved this by working closely with O/S and X-Windows vendors. Over the years, ATI has provided thousands of dollars worth of products, technical documentation and in-depth technical assistance in order to assist with the development of drivers for our products." I called and asked your technical support for compatibility information and was told by one of your technicians that "although ATI did not support the All-in-Wonder in Linux, drivers may be obtained via USENET." Also, the All-in-Wonder appeared on the Linux 2.0.34 Hardware Compatibility List. After close inspection of the packaging, I could not find an OS listed in the system requirements on the box. I was quite frustrated when the bttv package drivers did not work with my card. I soon found that they only work for the Bt848 tuner, which is not the same model as the one on my board. I called ATI support back, and this time the tech would not give me any information at all. As soon as I said my OS was Linux, he refused to answer any more questions. I finally bought an installation support contract with Red Hat ($40) in order that I could ask them about my problem. They pointed me to the Video for Linux web page, where it is stated that ATI has repeatedly refused to release developer information on its products and that Linux/Xfree86 drivers would probably never be available. Why did not ATI tell me this on either of the occasions I called? Your technical service department has wasted countless hours of my time and approximately $200 dollars out of my wallet. I am also confused as to why you cannot release drivers for your Brooktree/Philips products when Hauppauge and other video capture vendors have released developer information about chipsets from the same manufacturers. I really am disgusted by your disregard for my time and your failure to label your products properly. The Linux community wants drivers for your cards and has an install base of nearly 1.2 million users. Why do you continue to ignore that market? The store from which I bought that card has refused a return, stating that the card is not defective, and they do not carry another brand for which I can exchange it. I would like you to either furnish a driver for my card in Linux, provide the Linux community with low-level programming information that would allow us to furnish a driver, or allow me to return the card for a refund of the purchase price. Whatever you do, you should mark your video products clearly on the label with a note to the effect of "Video features work only in Microsoft Windows 9x/NT environments.", and your technicians should tell inquirers up front that your video products are not ideal for Linux users. Sincerely, Matthew J. Mellon (336) 632-2307 matthew.mellon@cp.novartis.com ------------ To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@phunk.org with the line "unsubscribe video4linux" without the quotes in the body of the message.
List: linux-video Subject: Re: [video4linux] The ATI Problem From: Alan Cox < alan () cymru ! net> Date: 1998-11-05 22:32:36 > Hello. This is my first appearance on this list. > > I am one of those idiots who bought an ATI Bt829 All-in-Wonder > and can't get drivers for any OS except Windows9x/NT. > > Question: If I get a SCSI DVD-ROM, can I use the decoder > on my All-in-Wonder or will I need to buy a separate board? > > I would like to share the response I got from ATI after I complained. Its a standard message over a year old - dont hope too hard ------------ To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@phunk.org with the line "unsubscribe video4linux" without the quotes in the body of the message.