When Device Support Goes Beyond Drivers | Linux Today

When Device Support Goes Beyond Drivers

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
Nov 10, 2008

[ Thanks to sakgarg
for this link. ]

“A reader left a comment on the original story that his
ATI video drivers do not work at all with Compiz and video
playback, or particularly well with WINE. I have not personally
seen this problem, but I’ve heard others talk about similar issues
(with different card manufacturers). This is, however, a
complicated issue to deconstruct. I don’t think it can honestly be
said that the device in question isn’t supported. I am making the
assumption that whatever driver module is being used — fglrx,
radeon, ati — works with the compositor disabled, or perhaps even
with it enabled, but without video files playing. I am going to
avoid the definition of “supported” in this case, as it can mean
different things depending on device and user. The driver works,
but not in the way that is necessarily desired, or expected. It may
be a bug, it may be that the device is better described as
“partially supported” or — and this is the hard part to determine
in the case of the graphics driver — it could be something else
entirely.”


Complete Story

Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

Linux Today Logo

LinuxToday is a trusted, contributor-driven news resource supporting all types of Linux users. Our thriving international community engages with us through social media and frequent content contributions aimed at solving problems ranging from personal computing to enterprise-level IT operations. LinuxToday serves as a home for a community that struggles to find comparable information elsewhere on the web.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.