Michael Shiloh michael at openmoko.org wrote on Mon Mar 17 17:34:14 CET 2008: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Very well put, Michele, and others who have said similar things.
I was describing this project to a friend, and for awhile he thought this was just another cellphone or PDA. Then suddenly his eyes lit up and he said "Aha! I see. It's much more than a phone or a PDA". It's people who have that insight that are best suited to the developer release. Not because they possess special intelligence, but because seeing the potential gives them the patience to put up with difficulties like the tricky build process, daily changes in software, and our the delays in manufacturing. Of course we're happy to sell the unit to anyone, but if all you want is a replacement for your PDA or cellphone, and if you want it in a hurry, you should just go out and buy an existing device. This distinction is not meant to disparage anyone. Those of you who want more than a cellphone or PDA are in no way better than those who want an open cellphone or PDA that just works. It's just that the goal will help you put up with the hardships. Remember, once we start manufacturing and shipping Freerunner, the challenges aren't over - in fact, for you, they just begin! Perhaps another distinction is this: If you look forward to the challenges of making the Freerunner much more than a cellphone or PDA, then please join us. If you have little interest in putting up with the frustrations that will surely follow, you will do best to wait for the consumer software to be ready. Michael ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...in other words, it *is* intended strictly as a developer's plaything, and you have no interest whatsoever in selling to consumers. Because with these attitudes, even if you do eventually come out with a consumer version, they won't be interested. This has been my point all along: what is your goal? If you ever want to sell this thing to consumers, you're going to have to aim in their direction, not strictly at developers. If you think you can suddenly start wooing consumers after all the development is done, you have a rude awakening ahead... _______________________________________________ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community