6 Jul
1999
6 Jul
'99
4:49 p.m.
Odd... I've got several hundred (no exageration)
service manuals here.
All containing schematics, etc. In a lot of cases there's enough
information to build an exact copy of the device from the service manual.
And you know what? I can't think of a single example where a competitor
has done that. Or even used the information to directly make a competing
product.
???!!?!?!!!!
Tucked away in just about _every_ manuafacturer's R&D department is a
room that contains as many of their competitor's products and manuals as
they can get their hands on. If you think that electronic companies do
not use this tactic to "improve" their products, you are wrong.
Service manuals do a great job of giving up company secrets! These days,
the things are generally marked "confidential" and do not leave the
buildings.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org