I've just joined this list, and I saw RajkoM's query about the Arduino page, 
so since I'm the one that put it there, I thought I'd just clarify a bit.

1.  The main page linked to is the Arduino homepage (the one mentioned by 
RajkoM is several jumps away), and as can be seen from that page (near the 
bottom), both board and software are open-source.  The main purpose of the 
project is to offer an easy way to experiment with computer-controlled 
electronics, eg as a controller for an electronic musical instrument using 
something like Processing, PureData, or SuperCollider (which is what sparked 
my initial interest).

2.  There is indeed a link to a place you can buy a ready-made board from 
(alongside a reference to the fact that you can build it yourself), but that 
is only to save time for people who, like me, did their last soldering 20 
years ago, and would prefer the convenience of getting a board they know will 
work.

3.  I have no connection whatsoever with the Arduino project, or the board 
seller.  I am simply an openSUSE user.  I am not promoting a "product" - I am 
trying to use my favourite OS to do something other than read the Web or set 
up a server (though I added a page about a Subversion server yesterday).

4.  The information on the page, while short, is the result of several hours 
trial and error, and the aim of presenting it on the wiki was to make it 
easier for openSUSE users to get started on physical computing (so that maybe 
they will create something new :-) ), without having to go through the same 
hoops.

4.  My own view is that people use computers to get work done, and while for 
some that work may be in IT, for most that is not the case.  So while it is 
very helpful to have a wiki setting out how to get openSUSE running well, it 
is also important, IMO, to have on the wiki some pointers for people as to 
what they can actually *do* with openSUSE once they have it running well.  
It's all very well saying, "There are 3 dozen music apps on the openSUSE 
DVD", but that is really of little help to users (especially new users) if 
there aren't some basic hints as to how to get started with those apps.

5.  I recognise that this may not be the "official" view (although in fact it 
was what the old SuSE manuals tried to do), so I have no objection at all to 
the page being deleted if it's considered to be straying outside 
the "openSUSE area". :-)

-- 
Pob hwyl / Best wishes

Kevin Donnelly

www.kyfieithu.co.uk - KDE yn Gymraeg
www.klebran.org.uk - Gwirydd gramadeg rhydd i'r Gymraeg
www.eurfa.org.uk - Geiriadur rhydd i'r Gymraeg
www.rhedadur.org.uk - Rhedeg berfau Cymraeg
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