12 Dec
2010
12 Dec
'10
10:59 a.m.
On 12/11/2010 4:06 PM, Alexandre Souza - Listas wrote:
>
> Tony Duell, the master of HP, said:
Actually, I am not sure I agree with that description. There are others
here who know more abotu HP machines that I do. A lot more.
My experience of releasing source code for
classic computer-related
things is that the market is so small that nobody is going to make them
commerically anyway. And I would much rathers others could see the
sources, make changes, improve it, make other simialr devivces, etc.
I have a thinking about this:
- Release everything and sell the product. Because who KNOWS how to
do, will do it with or without the sources. Who DOESN'T KNOW how to
do, will not do even with the sources.
It always worked for me.
---
Enviado do meu Motorola PT550
I will attest it works splendidly in this type of market:
* Pricing a product competitively guarantees people won't bother
building it.
Firstly, does it matter if somebody does build their own version (for
theire own use)? It's neve worried me...
And secondly, I am awkeward enough to want o make my own. Mainly because
I could then use leaded solder. And I can put any DIP chips I want to in
turned-pin sockets. And I can ...
* The size of the market dissuades competitors
I would certianly agree with that. The project that started this
discussion was a Lisa keyboard tester. Just how many of those do you
think you could sell? There simply aren't that many Lisa owners around.
* If something should happen to your business,
another one can pull
the source, and create more for interested individuals. No
orphanware or other issues to worry about.
Or if something happens to _you_ (as the guy who built this and didn't
release the source). I could well believe I could accidentally connect
myself across a high voltage supply, or whatever.
* People are more interested in funding
improvements to the device
via "Kickstarter"-like programs when it's freely released.
Or modify/fix it themselves. The more people who are able to improve
things, the better.
-tony