Linus Torvalds expressed his displeasure for Nvidia when a member from the audience asked him how he felt about Nvidia's overall lack of support for Linux-based computers. The lack of driver support makes operating Nvidia Optimus difficult on Linux, and one would like to believe that since Nvidia is such a key player in the Android market (based on the Linux kernel) that they would have no problem cooperating with the Linux community.
“I know exactly what you're talking about and I'm very happy to say that it's the exception rather than the rule. And I'm also very happy to very publicly point out that Nvidia has been one of the worst trouble spots we have had with hardware manufacturers,” said Linus Torvalds, “And that is really sad because Nvidia tries to sell chips - a LOT of chips - into the Android market. And Nvidia has been the single worst company we have ever dealt with. So, Nvidia, fuck you!”
Unfortunately, Nvidia has found a way to make money from the Android Market with Tegra, but that doesn't mean they are obligated to support Linux any more than that. Perhaps giving them the finger will make them reconsider.
Interestingly, the last audience member to speak had recently joined Nvidia and stated that they are working on more Tegra support to please the Linux community, “Even though you gave me the finger, I still thank you!” to which Torvalds responded:
“I actually like being outrageous at times, it's amusing, I guarantee you if you make that video available on the Internet, there will be thousands of people really upset. I like offending people, because I think people who get offended should be offended.”
The entire Aalto Center Q&A video is available here and is worth watching in its entirety:
If you would like to skip to where the F-Bomb was dropped, click here.
