[mythtv] AMD To Drop Radeon HD 2000/3000/4000 Catalyst Support: (was: Re: MythTV 0.26, XVideo, and OpenGL)

[Gary Buhrmaster]

On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 22:27, Jean-Yves Avenard <jyavenard at gmail.com> wrote:
....
> So why would this be a problem? Have an old card, use the existing and
> working drivers. Simple..

Well, mostly, but eventually you may want to upgrade to
kernel version n+1 (or X.org version n+1), and unlike some
OS vendors that promise stable ABIs, Linux makes no
such promises.  The interposers (between the kernel/X)
and the binary blobs can only do so much.  Sometimes
you need to change the binary blobs (and that will no
longer be done by ATI for their older cards).  It *might*
be possible to create kernel modules that fake the
required kernel functions for the binary blobs, but, as
with much else, it would depend.  It is one more of the
realities of using binary blob drivers on Linux.  You are
completely at the mercy of the vendor of the binary
blob.  This is not the first time ATI has cut loose older
GPUs on Linux.  I would be surprised if it is the last.
Caveat Emptor.

Gary