Comment Re:It's about time. (Score 1) 24
Yes. Computer hardware has been a commodity since the late 80's to early 90's.
Some people don't use a smartphone,
Yes. Computer hardware has been a commodity since the late 80's to early 90's.
Some people don't use a smartphone,
That's another thing about open hardware. If you don't like the track point you don't have to use it. You can change the keyboard and pointing device. Want a higher res display? No problem swap it out to another panel. The firmware isn't locked to any particular panel.
Another difference with Open Lunchbox is that all the components to build your own laptop are there the same as you can with desktop PC's. You can swap LCD's, drives mainboards and cases. The design files may be used as a standard for building your own laptops.
Even better that you're able to get 6+ more years from an already 6-8 year old laptop with its great keyboard and track point by just swapping out the mainboard. It also doesn't break by just using it or from a small bump.
Here are a couple of links you might want to read to better understand open hardware and what people are interested in having:
The main concern with most laptops is having to use closed binary drivers, closed binary firmware/BIOS and not having schematics. This project has all open source drivers, coreboot and schematics, PCB files and a BOM (bill of materials). They can use it the way they want and modify it if they wish.
It's not about competing with closed mass produced hardware. It's about choice and having the ability to use and modify the hardware to suit your needs.
This is not about mass market appeal to the average consumer. They buy whatever they are conditioned to purchase. This is for those people that understand and care about freedom and open source. This gives them the opportunity to modify, control and use their hardware the way they see fit.
Take a look at why, how and where people use Linux as an example of open source.
It's an open laptop mainboard with all the design files and coreboot source. You can't buy that at a big box store.
After designing hundreds of mainboards this is a no brainer. Intel is out for the cpu and chipset since they aren't coreboot or open doc friendly. If people want a different AMD laptop APU board, let it be known.
It's sad that 3D printing had become synonymous with FDM or glorified glue guns (GGG). There are lots of different technologies that fall under the umbrella of 3D printing.
Here's a gun that was 3D printed using DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) for the metal parts and SLS for the grips. It's both durable and viable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
http://www.engineering.com/3DP...
Here's a few other 3D printing processes that are not FDM glorified glue guns:
SLS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...
DMLS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...
The calculator app was just an example. The point is, why do apps that don't require location, contact lists, browsing history need access to them? We know why they do, so why isn't there built in security to automatically prevent access?
... so that you can buy or try any app just like you would download apps for linux distros, without having to register or give an app access to all my stored info? Why does a calculator app need to access my contact list or location data? Will the results vary based on my contacts or location?
And while you're at it an open source version of Android. I'm happy to pay for apps that I really want but lets at least have a layer of security between applications and stored data, location, call history etc etc
Love may laugh at locksmiths, but he has a profound respect for money bags. -- Sidney Paternoster, "The Folly of the Wise"
