On the fglrx side, we started the transition to common code a few years ago, even before joining up with AMD. The primary goal was to better address the workstation business but the work also made it possible to start bringing high-end features and performance to consumer users.
On the open source side, a couple of things happened at the same time. As a result of joining up with AMD we picked up an additional set of customers (buying CPUs rather than GPUs) and those customers generally had a significant interest in out-of-the-box Linux support. AMD CPUs have been strong in the server space for a while but those same customers are also targeting enterprise client users with Linux and so open source driver support for our GPUs was identified as a top priority for a number of the larger CPU buyers.
To a certain extent open source GPU driver support is a "cost of doing business" on the CPU side, but it benefits both enterprise and consumer users in the process.
There have been super-charismatic Linux advocates on both the ATI and AMD side for a while, but until the last couple of years it was tough to provide any business justification for investing in Linux support. We are probably still spending more on Linux support than the market share today justifies, but I think we can justify the investment with the potential of greater workstation and enterprise client sales in the future.
On the open source side, a couple of things happened at the same time. As a result of joining up with AMD we picked up an additional set of customers (buying CPUs rather than GPUs) and those customers generally had a significant interest in out-of-the-box Linux support. AMD CPUs have been strong in the server space for a while but those same customers are also targeting enterprise client users with Linux and so open source driver support for our GPUs was identified as a top priority for a number of the larger CPU buyers.
To a certain extent open source GPU driver support is a "cost of doing business" on the CPU side, but it benefits both enterprise and consumer users in the process.
There have been super-charismatic Linux advocates on both the ATI and AMD side for a while, but until the last couple of years it was tough to provide any business justification for investing in Linux support. We are probably still spending more on Linux support than the market share today justifies, but I think we can justify the investment with the potential of greater workstation and enterprise client sales in the future.
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