We had decided on a Conexant video chip, because it provides dual-link DVI, analog RGB, and a number of TV signal formats. Plus, it's inexpensive.
Well, it turns out that they want us to sign an NDA to be able to use the chip. We asked if that was absolutely necessary, and they said 'yes'. We explained our situation, and they said they'd get back with us. They haven't.
sounds like connexant all right.
here's an example of connexant's business practises:
not too long ago was a company called broktree, that manufactured video processing chips, such as the BT848 and BT878, documentation was available freely to anyone bothering to download it from the website.
Some time ago, Connexant bought that company, dropped the first chip, renamed the second one CN878.
Then they came up with a new chip, dubbed CX88x (x between 0 and 4).
The functionnality was exactly the same as the previous chips, but register assignments were totally different, which requires a totally different cx88 linux driver that has to be reverse engineered, as no documentation can be had, unless an NDA is to be signed (how similar this situation is to the one you are currently in...)
Of course, the CN878 is now considered Obsolete, and video capture cards using it are hard to find.
It's possible that we may still be able to use their chip if we wrap their IP in some Verilog code. But then that becomes a problem when we release the Verilog, so we might have to rip that part out. It would be best if we could just disclose the specs. One would think they wouldn't turn their nose up at an order for 10,000 units, but that sort of thing is common when IP issues come into play.
nah, don't do that. you'd have to buy a dozen million parts before they start listening.
There's an alternative, but it's more expensive, and that also is a problem.
well, even if the competition's part is $5 extra, it won't make the price tag of the board much more expensive than it should be.
trying to count pennies is a bad idea if you ask me, when the initial price tag is more than $200...
To an extent, we have numbers on our side, because we have lots of people who can drive home the point, but I hate it when the free software community bullies companies, like what happened with TI not too long ago. Notice how TI still didn't concede to the request, and now TI is even less likely to want to support free software in the future.
well, imho, we should just forget about connexant and use the competition's stuff.
We (Tech Source) are going to continue to try to negotiate with them unilaterally, but if that doesn't work, we (as a community with numbers) can make a single, one-time, polite attempt at trying to convince them that this would be very good for their business. If they don't listen, we'll just have to select an alternative.
you're loosing your time & money with connexant
I'll happily fork $10 more for a similar product from the competition that doesn't require stupid NDAs
Raphael _______________________________________________ Open-graphics mailing list [email protected] http://lists.duskglow.com/mailman/listinfo/open-graphics List service provided by Duskglow Consulting, LLC (www.duskglow.com)
