Apologies if this is too OT for some/most.
>From http://www.theregister.co.uk/000323-000026.html
(this is probably old news to readers in the US)
Also see: http://www.linux-hacker.net/iopener (for how the hack was done
Warning: heavy graphics load)
NetPliance hobbles i-Opener $99 PC hack
NetPliance has disabled its $99 i-Opener appliance, to prevent new models
being pumped up into a fully-functioning PC.
The Texan-based company aims to sell Net access subscriptions for $21.95
per month, on the back of the i-Opener's (tagline - All the fun of the Internet
without the computer) pared-down email and Internet functionality.
But hackers have been buying i-Opener units, often in multiples from Circuit City,
Netpliance's sole retailer, without any intention of using Netpliance's net service.
Details of how to convert the device into a PC spread through the Linux and FreeBSD
communities last week - and reached the wider world through the New York Times.
NetPliance also sells i-Opener direct. On its Web site, it says the $99 price tag for
i-Opener is an introductory offer -- or rather it says the regular price is $199.
Here is Netpliance's press statement, issued today, in full.
"In response to recent reports of the unauthorized reconfiguration of its i-opener
Internet appliance, Netpliance, Inc. (NPLI) announced that it has implemented
hardware changes to prevent reconfigurations of i-opener Internet appliances
produced after March 20, 2000. The changes implemented by the Company
will be immaterial to the production cost of the i-opener Internet appliance.
The Company believes the reported unauthorized reconfiguration of the i-opener
Internet appliance has not had a material impact on its operating results or
general product availability."
