Open Source Hardware Gets Public Introduction

JoeBorn writes "The Sunday New York Times has an article on Neuros video recorder and describes the benefits of open source hardware to its mainstream readership. Can a mainstream audience appreciate that hackability can translate into new features or will it all just seem too geeky? In this case, the Neuros OSD got a YouTube browser. While the details might be lost on the average reader, are they getting the sense that some companies allow users to benefit from other users modifications while others are actively bricking products for applying 3rd party apps? In other words, is openness starting to add value to the brands that support it?"

Re:Warranty and expectations of the average consum

[cp.tar]

Don't forget that most open source software comes with big warnings that there are absolutely no warranties. Do most consumers really expect the same from their hardware?

Have you actually read Microsoft's EULA? Any of them?

Besides, one could argue that the source code is a warranty unto itself: a warranty that nothing is hidden, and if it doesn't work, you can check it yourself. And if the development stops, you can pick it up yourself.

Therefore, Open Source software in itself warrants you the ability to check for spyware, to make provisions for continued development (what can you do when MS decides to EOL one of their products?) and the ability to fix bugs if you have or can afford the know-how.

And it seems to me that's much more than closed source software guarantees.

Side note: I'm excited about openmoko [openmoko.com], the open hardware (and open source software) cell phone. Waiting for the second revision, which will include 802.11.

I'm buying it the moment it's ready for mass market as well.

--
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Re:Isn't It Simple?

[ccguy]

Aren't the benefits of open source, or, generally, hackable hardware very simple to explain?

Indeed. But so are the reasons for closed hardware. Your argument that ANYONE (your word) can modify a device that uses electricity is, for the majority of the population, an argument against, not for, openness.

Yes, I know this is slashdot, and people here see the benefits of hardware openness (even though for most it's just a matter of principle and never hack anything anyway).

BTW for another good piece of open hardware, check chumby [chumby.com].

Re:Isn't It Simple?

[chuckymonkey]

I wish that Sony would learn that with the PSP. I have mine loaded with custom firmware and I love it. There are so many more features available when I'm not locked into Sony's crap. I can stream video from my computer straight to it, I can read books on it, it has SSH now so I can mess around with my fileserver anywhere that I have a WIFI connection. That's just the tip of the iceberg too, there is just so much more that is available for it now that it's opened up no thanks to SONY. I'm sure that there are a ton of consumer devices out there that would do well with similar treatment. Really what does the company stand to lose if they let people write programs for it, they can get ideas from these programs and even have the good ones sponsored on their websites. Sure there are some people that will try to screw you, but since you are loading something not endorsed by the company that made the product that's a risk that you take. Emblazon that across the device at purchase time and even your most ignorant buffoon will have no recourse should they break it with software. I apologize if my post rambles a little, it is after all very early in the morning.

Easier

[MrCopilot]

"It's a lot easier to design future products with openness built into them," he said, "than to open a closed product."

Oh yeah, It certainly helps if you don't start with 3rd party licensed software. Building a new device based on linux is not what I'd call easy, but in legal terms it's a hell of alot easier than trying to "open" up a WinCE device.

Following the old adage "Do it right the first time."

/goes back to bootloader code debugging.

Re:Sharp DVD Recorder DRM and open markets

[Technician]

Recorded some shows to send to my young Son to watch in our second language. Trouble is: The new Sharp DVD Recorders save everything in copy-protected format that aren't playable on any other systems.

Thanks for the info. DRM will only survive in an open market if alternatives are outlawed. Defective products don't sell the momemt a working alternative appears. Remember the DAT? DAT by law required Serial Copy Management..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Copy_Management_System [wikipedia.org]

Computer hardware unencumbered by the broken format simply bypassed the DAT which rightfully died in the cradle. Computer CD drives gave way to CDR's which didn't include the restriction.

If a single vendor solution is broken, continue to look at alternatives. For me the alternative is a PVR-150 capture card in a Linux machine followed by my editor of choice and DVD author of choice to a DVD drive of my choice. DRM free and region free DVD creation is not that hard. Ask around. Some hardware is more friendly than others.

Since you dropped a brand name, I'll mention my technophobe wife. (I know.. Slashdot and wife..) She needed a simple solution. For her it is simply a Magnavox MWR20V6. She shoots the grandkids using a camcorder. Making a DVD is as simple as playing back the tape and pushing record on the DVD recorder (after selecting line in instead of a TV channel). Menu creation is very basic and she needs to remember to finalize the disk. To pass out copies, a simple right click in a linux box using copy to file and then on the ISO copy to disk is the fast way to make duplicates to pass to relatives. Making an iso and making lots of copies from the iso is a very simple process and much faster than any other way I have duplicated DVDs on a budget.

Slashdot greatly overestimates the mainstream

[Revotron]

Slashdot is *greatly* overestimating the mainstream audiences and general public.

The sad truth is, the general public really doesn't care about open source. They want something that works, and to them, the things that you buy from Sony, LG, Microsoft and others work. They don't care whether the hardware is open-source or proprietary. The fact that the iPhone lacks support for 3rd party applications surely didn't stop hundreds of thousands of people from getting one on opening day.

I think you all are greatly overestimating the capabilities of the mainstream public when it comes to "open source". I'm guessing that the millions and millions of readers of the New York Times will just skip over the article and move on to reading about Britney Spears.

tl;dr: Too much is going on in the news - this was a terrible time to release an article like this that is supposed to introduce the mainstream audience to *anything*.