Nvidia failed me
May 16, 2008
I've been using Linux on my home computer for work for almost 10 years and as an HTPC for 4, so it is with much regret that I am using Windows XP on the new HD replacement for my old Shuttle HTPC. I wanted to use Linux because I'm used to MythTV, which is what I ran on my old box. However, it was time to upgrade because my new HDTV needs an HDMI or component input, which my current HTPC lacked. I bought a new Shuttle XPC with on-board Nvidia 7050 graphics chip and HDMI out. I installed Ubuntu Hardy Heron and hooked it up to my TV. Most things worked great. The wireless worked perfectly without hunting for drivers, I could use my wiimote as a bluetooth mouse, installing software and configuring X was effortless.
The hitch came when I switched to 720p resolution (which is my TV's native res) and discovered a huge overscan problem. A few quick web searches turned up a utility which would fix this for Nvidia, but only on Windows. "Ok," I said, "I can adjust for this in Myth's appearance settings, so even though its annoying I can deal with it for now." I set the problem aside. Next I realized I couldn't hear any sounds. One more Google search and I find that Nvidia doesn't yet support audio over HDMI in Linux (but they do on Windows). So now my choice was between using winxp for my HTPC or buying a surround sound speaker system so that I could output the audio via the SPDIF port. Since I wasn't that interested in buying hardware to fix a software problem, I ended up switching to windows until Nvidia gets their driver problems fixed.
I'm extremely disappointed in Nvidia this time. I've never had a problem with their binary drivers before, but it seems like HDMI is one area their Linux drivers have completely failed. All the more frustrating is the fact that Nvidia still refuses to release an open source version of their driver, which means I can't depend on the programming community to fix it for me, I have to wait on Nvidia's development schedule and management priorities. That's just pathetic.