So this one should be interesting, apparently AMD is purchasing ATI. Should be interesting for Linux for a couple of reasons, one obviously AMD tends to be the processor of choice for many people running Linux due to Linux actually supporting full 64 Bit all the way through the chain for most people. AMD actually pushed for this before their launch, which makes me wonder if maybe they might push for strong support of the ATI platform that they seem to be heading towards for Linux, possibly relooking at the drivers that ATI provides that so many people have problems with.

Curious what other people think might happen here...

Seablade

Nope, AMD wanted the embedded development, handhelds, and having their own mobo chipset. Having the video market is just a nice second, as it allows them to build more integrated crap like Intel does in order to gain low-end marketshare.

yep...i think better fglrx drivers in the near future is just not gonna happen. this is all about creating "Centrino" type package for AMD using the Turion/Sempron CPU, ATI chipset maybe even graphics and some 3rd party wifi card. In other words, make sure your next linux box is an nvidia

That may be a bit difficult if I go with AMD depending on how things go

I agree that this is primarily about the Centrino style development, I would disagree on the embedded development, it isnt a place that AMD is known for at all, and neither is ATI. That area is dominated primarily by others, and I havent really seen much effort put forth by either to change it. ATI I think may have been involved with some graphics dont get me wrong, but I dont tihnk that is good enough to draw embedded development out of it.

Of course if embedded development is the endgoal, it could mean better support for Linux anyways as that is where Linux is at its strongest is customizing it for different platforms and dedicated purposes.

At any rate though, I do think that saying that this wont affect how ATI functions may be being a bit myopic. Even if AMD does its best to continue running ATI as normal, something will change over time as a result of them being the overlords. It comes down to the bottom line, obviously AMD thought linux enough of a moneymaker to support its 64 bit line(And obviously this paid off very well in the server market), otherwise they wouldnt have bothered. ATI has apparently thought Linux important enough to bother with(Even with crappy drivers). To me it is entierly possible that when mixing those two corporation with similar lines of thinking, it may be possible they reinforce each other to the point we get decent drivers and support.

Personally I would have much prefered an AMD + NVidia combination myself, especially when dealing with development for laptops as that is the better combination for linux support, but I am thinking something MAY come out of this.

Seablade

Than you've been sleeping or are going off the top of your head because right now ATI has over 50% of their resources in embedded systems development.

It can only get better, as ATI has constantly been plagued by god-awful management which has held the company back for years now.

My initial reaction was that this is AMD's Centrino as ABF suggested. I think AMD feels that laptops are the future and they needed to do this to protect themselves.

Ther are scenarios where amd/ati/linux users may benefit. We'll have to see how things play out- i'd love to hear nvidia's reaction.

Moments after the announcement Intel dropped ATI as a customer so things may get VERY ugly. Intel is out to destroy AMD... this is not friendly competition.

I completely agree, I am very curious to see how that one turns out, as NVidia has supplied a lot of AMDs chipsets, and AMD has mentioned they have nothing against NVidia, and thus far has been a very good pairing for me when building computers.

It has been suggested that AMD might shift ATI's focus to primarily on the Centrino style development, nearly removing it entierely from the running for high end graphics. Not sure if that is likely or not, but could mean problems for consumers in the long run if that does happen. As much as I like NVidia, I doubt they would pass up an opportunity to make more money.

Seablade

AMD has a lot of game, and as an investor i just bought myself some more AMD stocks because i think that game will come out. Intel has nowhere to run

I hope this doesn't hurt nVidia's production of chipsets for AMD systems :/

hopefully their combined manufacturing power will help them become stronger. a little less vaporware from ati perhaps?