Hi,
my opinion is that free hardware (free as beer) with free usage will
probably never happen. There are only few scenarios, where you can
achieve that, two are realistic, but have limits:
1) you are getting free hardware because with its usage you still
will generate revenues
1A: equipment from employer, such as computers, phone, car
1B: service-bound devices - mobile phones, e-readers
2) you are from the third world, with enough luck that you can end
up with for example with an OLPC device
I can not think up other todays scenarios right now.
There would be however a third way to obtain free hardware - by means of
recycling. When somebody/some company upgrades, there is often a lot of
unwanted devices, these could theoretically reenter the system in a free
manner (as recycling is a paid service even if it looks free at the
end). The problem to achieve this today, and a bigger problem in future
is that the today's hardware is not designed for long life. When
something is replaced, it is rather because it is broken. So it is not
possible to provide a free hardware, even if somebody would offer it..
thankfully the pile of broken devices (today) is a great source of
knowledge for kids, hackers and engineers beginners. Eventually this
aspect will also diminish with increased integration and smaller geometries.
From my point of designer, I could advice to use modular designs, when
the core elements can be reused in devices where it would be still
sufficient while the original device gets upgraded. And everything must
be designed to a longer life - it is shame that the pre-2000 devices are
still working today, while something 3 years old gets always broken.
Daniel
On 08/18/2011 04:03 AM, Ilias K. wrote:
Hello everyone,
I'd like to ask you how remote the possibility is of totally cost-free
(free as in beer), open source hardware, just like in FOSS.
Now, I know that there are communities focused on
the business model aspects of OSH, but I'd also very much appreciate
the opinions of engineers, manufacturers and developers from various
projects.
Thanks in advance,
Ilias K.
Yet another CS graduate
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