Sven Luther <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > The idea is that the firmware is all the software and other softwarish > information which the vendor provides to make use of the board he sells you.
I see. If I buy a standard-issue Dell computer, then Windows is firmware, right? (Dell does provide it, for the purpose of making full use of the computer.) > He has full control of it, in the sense that it is often binary > only, and that he produces it, and not some third party (like the > operating system vendor). Also, i believe that modifying the > firmware, like you propose, usually voids the waranty. Oh, so because the OEM can't modify Windows it's not firmware. But if I buy a Dell PC that comes with Red Hat installed, it *is* something Dell can modify, so then it is firmware? > all software support part that comes from the hardware vendor, to enable or > drive or whatever the hardware he sells you, and which is not part of the > operating system. Um, this is not a definition. The whole point of a definition is to describe what is "firmware" and what is the "operating system". When I suggest that there is no good principled definition, you can't counter by definining firmware as essentially "whatever is not part of the operating system." Pretend I don't have any idea what this word "firmware" is or "operating system". I'm familiar with programming and all that, just not with these words. Can you explain the distinction in a noncircular way? Thomas -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]