1 Oct
2012
1 Oct
'12
11:17 a.m.
Joachim Thiemann <joachim.thiemann at gmail.com> writes:
No, IMHO the particular _pattern_ of cut/missing
diodes is the
"firmware". The diodes are the ROM, yes. But like a book is a bunch of
pressed tree-pulp, a "novel" is a particular arrangement of letters.
Richard wrote:
This is a non-distinguishing distinction. The firmware
is realized as
a bunch of cut/missing diodes. So what? Who cares how the firmware is
realized, it's still firmware. It could be realized in Minecraft, that
wouldn't make it any less firmware.
No, it's a completely sensible and useful distinction.
The fact that firmware can be realized in Minecraft doesn't make
Minecraft firmware, any more than the fact that firmware can be stored
as a pattern of electrical charges on floating gates makes an EPROM be
firmware. I have plenty of EPROMs that are not firmware, but perhaps
could store firmware at some future date.