[Arm-netbook] http://lateral.netmanagers.com.ar/weblog/posts/the-raspberry-pi-suck s.html

[Gordan Bobic]

On 06/20/2012 12:23 PM, "Sztupák Sz. Zsolt" <mail at sztupy.hu>" wrote:
> 2012.06.20. 13:16 keltezéssel, Gordan Bobic írta:
>> On 06/20/2012 12:13 PM, "Sztupák Sz. Zsolt"<mail at sztupy.hu>" wrote:
>>> 2012.06.20. 13:10 keltezéssel, Gordan Bobic írta:
>>>> On 06/20/2012 12:03 PM, "Sztupák Sz. Zsolt"<mail at sztupy.hu>" wrote:
>>>>> 2012.06.20. 12:59 keltezéssel, Gordan Bobic írta:
>>>>>> On 06/20/2012 11:25 AM, Lauri Kasanen wrote:
>>>>>>> On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:16:13 +0100
>>>>>>> Gordan Bobic<gordan at bobich.net>        wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If that is such a big issue (and it is certainly not a trivial issue),
>>>>>>>> then maybe pursuing an ARM solution is wrong in the first place and we
>>>>>>>> should be pursuing a solution based on Loongson MIPS, a-la Leemote
>>>>>>>> Yeeloong or similar.
>>>>>>> They haven't (yet?) made any graphics chips. The laptops use 2d-only chips from SMI, with open specs; the desktops use XGI chips, without open specs but with a RE-d open 2d driver IIRC.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So no magic open 3d with Loongson either.
>>>>>> I have not yet heard a compelling argument for why 3D is actually
>>>>>> needed. A lightweight ARM laptop isn't going to be a gaming rig by any
>>>>>> length of imagination anyway. An ARM server isn't going to need graphics
>>>>>> of any description at all.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Why the ongoing hang-up about 3D graphics? Seriously, what is the point?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Gordan
>>>>>>
>>>>> OpenGL is also used for hardware acceleration for 2D graphics, so it is
>>>>> also usable for non-gaming apps. And the more HTML5-heavy sites there
>>>>> are the more hardware acceleration is needed for them.
>>>> Given the popularity and relative frequency of use, I'd be more
>>>> concerned about the lack of flash (as a nice little illustration that
>>>> closed/proprietary software is no less evil than lack of features
>>>> because the end result is the same).
>>>>
>>>> Gordan
>>>>
>>>>
>>> In this context Flash and HTML5 are the same: processing (CPU+GPU) power
>>> hungry, and (mainly) 2D stuff.
>> Do gnash and lightspark require OpenGL acceleration?
>>
>> Gordan
>>
> Gnash has multiple renderers, including a non-hardware accelerated
> (agg), and an OpenGL based one (and also a cairo based one)
>
> OpenGL is usually not required anywhere (or if it is required one can
> use a software renderer), but it will improve rendering speed (if
> implemented properly) over CPU based solutions, that's why OpenGL is
> usually a good thing to have, even if you don't plan on using your
> device as a gaming rig. (and besides, operating systems, like Android
> ICS, or Ubuntu with Unity actually require proper OpenGL support)

Sure, but the original point still stands - how many people from the 
target audience would actually deem OpenGL acceleration to be a 
mandatory rather than a nice-to-have feature?

Gordan