On 21 Mar 2006 at 16:18, houghi wrote: > On Tue, Mar 21, 2006 at 04:00:17PM +0100, Ulrich Windl wrote: > > I disagree: developing a driver for Linux is a significant amount of work, > > and you > > get something (the driver). You don't get the sources, but you didn't pay > > for. I'm > > sure you could get the sources if you are paying for them. > > By buying the hardware, you inderectly pay for the software. If the > hardwareseller decides to not use OSS, then he should also play buy the > rules and either open the source or place them in such a way that it does > not infringe the rights of others.
Actually if I need the hardware, I prefer having a closed source driver very much over having no driver at all. For example: My Polaroid SprintScan 120 (discontinued product) is not supported by Linux, the vendor did not give away any programming information (not made by Polaroid), and there is a danger that "wild programming" will damage the hardware. So I have to use MS-Windows to use the scanner. The price you are paying for the hardware is hardly worth a few weeks work of some engineer. The real problem is the Chinese marketing: The build hardware for half of the costs and distribute the software they haven't developed for free. So the original vendor of hard- and software will not earn money. Regards, Ulrich --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
