Re: [linux-audio-dev] open-source like hardware

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Subject: Re: [linux-audio-dev] open-source like hardware
From: Paul Davis (pbd_AT_Op.Net)
Date: Tue Jan 15 2002 - 03:43:16 EET


>I think there's no problem in selling open-source h/w...

if its specs are open, and it can be manufactured without special
facilities, why wouldn't anyone simply contract with
<board-maker-name> and sell them for the lowest price? the lowest
price might be good for consumers, but its bad for whoever wants to
try to make all or part of their living from sales of their work.

>The point is you wouldn't have to beg for specs.

we didn't have to beg for specs on the trident cards, most
crystal-based cards, the RME cards, the ice1712 cards and on and on.

>+ you would have a bigger chance that such companies would take care of
>some s/w os projects (in terms of money), because they do not have to

which companies?

>most of which you can't use under linux(this concerns audio h/w)...

au contraire. most commodity audio h/w *does* work under linux. its
the specialized gear that doesn't, and to be perfectly honest, i don't
see that as much of a problem. very few systems come with a
high end card - when was the last time you could only buy your chosen
system with an Event Mona installed? thats fine, because there are
GPL'ed drivers for cards at almost every level, and in general, the
cards with GPL drivers are at least as good as the ones that don't
have them.

>when there is all
>> this incredible software (halion, anyone?) that needs writing, and
>> writing soon!
>
>Benno's disk sampler evo? would be cool :)

yeah, it would, except that all of its developers have vanished off
the face of the earth and nothing has happened to it in at least 6
months. not to mention that the hard part - designing and building a
GUI - wasn't even started. at least we could get inspiration from
halion for the GUI. but meanwhile, such projects, truly useful,
inspiring and audibly cool projects, languish while people have time
to figure out how to write the specs for a product that no more than a
handful of people are ever likely to own (if that).

still, its a free world, and people should follow their own
course. i'm not intending to be judgemental, just pointing out some
issues that i see.

--p

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