Re: [MLUG] scanner

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Mon, 4 Aug 2003, Michael wrote:

> If it were up to me I'd say for the whole Linux community to flip the
> hardware companies the finger. We've got opensource designs for most
> critical computer hardware now.. with some effort we could flesh it out
> to include printers, scanners, etc. Design the hardware, design drivers,
> and make deals with companies to actually produce our products. I'm sure
> the zero-licensing costs would pull in a couple interested manufacturers
> at least. Obviously, being opensourced the devices would end up working
> with Windows, Mac, etc too but there certainly is no harm in that.

I didn't know there was such a thing as open-source hardware.  Thanks for
filling me in.  I found a good web page pretty easily:

http://opencollector.org/Whyfree/


> Software of course is another issue. We'll well on our way on that front
> but as always it takes time and motivation. Most opensource users are to
> cheap to chip in donations to even a few of their favorite projects so
> they'll just have to wait til the developers have time to get to all
> their little needs.. having to work a 'real job' 8-12 hours a day cuts
> into the time you can spend filling people's wishlists. No doubt that's
> why the majority of projects are either started by students or related
> to people's real jobs. :)

Despite these problems, I think very respectable progress has been made
during the last few years.  As we progress, there's more and more
incentive for major corporations to donate something to these projects.
I'd be surprised if many businesses aren't doing a lot with open source
code in house and not releasing it.  If they think it will help their
image, they'll release some of it.

Mike
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