On 21/10/2007, Sebastien Bourdeauducq <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Sunday 21 October 2007 06:18:02 howard parkin wrote: > > > > First problem: not all data sheets are available online, > > > > namely for the SIL1178 and CX25874 are hidden somewhere. > > > > I have these. I not sure if I should allow them to be downloaded > > by everyone though. While these data sheets were free and downloadable > > from the manufacturer at some point in the past, this is no longer > > the case, and I wonder if its worth upsetting SI/Conexant by > > posting these. > > Well, since Conexant already upsets us by never releasing information about > how to write drivers for computer hardware based on their chipsets (forcing > us to use Microsoft software, NDISWrapper, etc.), I think it is quite fair to > make that datasheet available to everyone :D
Not a few are upset about how a number of hardware companies have treated Open Source. But please understand that for many people in these companies who make these rules, 'Open Source' is some strange weird thing that they didn't get to learn about in the circles they travel in (I'm talking about people working above the engineering floor here). Because they did not understand the enormous shift in software, they have dealt with Linux by going with their first reflex of trying to stop it/ block it. So talented developers went ahead and reverse engineered drivers which only alarmed them further. Their initial response was then to ask "what now can we do to stop "them..?" . And the legal department are struggling to grasp how their decisions affect Linux. Remember WindRiver? (http://www.siliconvalleywatcher.com/mt/archives/2005/03/how_i_learned_t_1.php) It is by our engaging these ones that more will start to understand. These days, their marketing departments are just starting to say "hey, we have sales due to linux! and our competitors who support Linux have increased their sales". In some fields Customers are beginning to say "if you dont have a linux driver we will leave". Their competitors are saying "We are making money because of Linux". The SCO court case forced some to find that - shock horror, the company practically runs on linux. Engineers are saying "we now depend on linux to do our work" and a number of engineers are saying "we should be supporting linux!". This is filtering upwards. The message is starting to get through to those who want to listen. We still need to patiently deal with these ones and see what will happen and then decide what steps are needed. The companies that work with open software and open hardware will receive the benefits and we want to gently try and encourage more of these ones to join us. jb _______________________________________________ Open-graphics mailing list [email protected] http://lists.duskglow.com/mailman/listinfo/open-graphics List service provided by Duskglow Consulting, LLC (www.duskglow.com)
