Intel releases source code to drive its upcoming video hardware under the MIT license (a non-copylefted free software license). Here’s a list of the hardware you can use with this software (these are the video cards to choose from when buying your next video card, laptop, or desktop machine):

This would be fantastic news if it came with no strings attached (like patents that restrict what people can do with the software). It could be enough to cause recommending Intel graphics hardware instead of some low-end hardware we can run with free software.

Even Eben Moglen, FSF’s counsel, is interested; he’s quoted as saying

It’s a very important step in the evolution of the industry.

and

The move that Intel has taken, toward making better interoperability with free operating systems by abandoning secrecy, is the sign of a new competitive approach.

I’ll gladly recommend this hardware to clients, family, and friends if it’s all it’s shaping up to be.