Open Source Laser Business Opens In New York

ptorrone writes "If you can't stand the idea of a cookie-cutter laptop and you live in New York City, you have a new option: laser-etching. Phil Torrone, an editor at Make magazine, and Limor Fried, a former fellow at the tech-focused art studio Eyebeam R&D, are working together on Adafruit Laser Services, a new, by-appointment-only business in Manhattan that etches custom artwork onto customers' laptops, iPods, cell phones, and other gadgets." The entire business will be open source. From the Adafruit Laser Services site: "We are publishing how to use the high powered laser system, set up, techniques, business practices and templates. You could start your own laser business, we'll even help you."

Nice Slashvert.

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice Slashvert. Come on folks, this is unique? Special? New?

Open Source?

[flghtmstr1]

I thought open source referred to simply making the source code available for public viewing. How can a business "open source" something which is not code? I have noticed an increase in the improper usage of the term "open source" as of late; I've even heard people say that pirating software is "open sourcing" that piece of software.

Re:Open Source?

[ampathee]

I've even heard people say that pirating software is "open sourcing" that piece of software.

Wow, we need to stamp THAT out quick. Look what happened to "hacker".

garbage

[Anonymous Coward]

this is garbage and completely a spam advertisement. why is this allowed??????

Is this new?

[east coast]

Just remember, most pyramid scheme businesses are open source too.... they depend on it.

Re:Open Source?

[RealGrouchy]

It's like an Open Source business model.

Compare Microsoft's software with Wal-Mart's business model: we see the output of it, but we don't quite know what techniques they used to get there (like upper-level management techniques, how they decide where to locate their stores, etc.) Try to track down the manufacturers for Wal-Mart products. Try to get a tour of the factory to see the working conditions. Hell, try to take a look at Enron's accounting practises (oops. Too late for that one).

There are many companies in many sectors who go to great lengths to protect their "source": what it is they're doing that will eventually be their output. An "open" company (okay, I admit that the "source" part is unnecessary, but it does add context to what is meant by "open") will let you see the practises of the company, so that company can show it has nothing to hide.

With business as with software, openness builds trust.

- RG>

Re:Language does that

[trentblase]

You're not really thinking like a computer scientist. Schematics, templates, jigs (presumably the instructions on building them), etc. can all be source code if you define the language and target system correctly. For example, the template is presumably a set of instructions that tell the engraver where to engrave, what power level, how long, etc. These instructions get compiled or interpreted by the engraver and executed just like any other source code would. amirite?