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On 08/25/2016 12:47 AM, Scott Sullivan via talk wrote:<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:187e6d54-684f-e5bf-ff34-ba0fe08a74bc@ss.org"
type="cite">There is a common refrain on this list, "Vote with
your Dollars". We'll I'm going to put my money where my mouth is.
<br>
<br>
The EOMA-68 effort is something I've spoken on before. It's a real
earnest attempt to put together a hardware project that meets the
ideals of the free software community. It's matter of principle,
much like recycling is matter or principle (recycling is not
cheaper then new materials).
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop">https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop</a>
<br>
<br>
I've been watching Luke, the project lead, fail and succeed in
various ways for nearly 5 years now. He's had hardware prototypes
built, small productions runs of the A20 card done.
<br>
</blockquote>
I remember having discussions about this all those 5 years ago.<br>
My argument is largely the same.<br>
First off I like the idea of readability because there is lots of
hardware out there that is perfectly serviceable but is setting on
shelves doing nothing or taking up space in landfills.<br>
<br>
This is basically a raspberry pi without the ability to access the
features.<br>
<br>
For things like custom controllers I can go and buy a pi and a few
add-ons then plug it into a box and I have my little music player to
put in a corner or my led light controller to make fancy designs on
my walls but with the EOMA-68 I need a breakout carrier and some
extra hardware before I am in the same place.<br>
<br>
For laptop's the memory, speed and heat generated by a usable laptop
make the EOMA-68 a very difficult design choice.<br>
The reason for laptop upgrades is often needing more memory or disk
space but by the time you get there 2-3 years down the road the
keyboard has food bits under it and the touch pad is wearing out so
getting a new laptop is the way to go.<br>
The EOMA-68 will do very little to alleviate those problems.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:187e6d54-684f-e5bf-ff34-ba0fe08a74bc@ss.org"
type="cite">
<br>
This is a early adopter scenario, it's going to be rough around
the edges, and it's not going to be the fastest hardware. But it's
got the heart.
<br>
<br>
Spend sometime reading into the details.
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/fsf-ryf-background">https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/fsf-ryf-background</a>
<br>
<br>
In Five years, I've not seen Luke give up. He's finally found a
partner company with a good track record (Think Penguin). And the
design is done and tested. It just has to be built in mass.
<br>
<br>
I'm not asking that folks go for the laptop. But maybe just a
Card, and a Cable Set for Standalone Operation. The costs of
Hardware won't come down until we show that we are willing to put
a down payment on future we've been asking for.
<br>
<br>
I'm backing this project, not because its the cheapest, or the
fastest. But because I want to see more projects like in the
future that will be faster and possibly cost competitive in the
market.
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
If a project needs people to go out and buy items in the hopes of
getting the price down then its in real trouble.<br>
<br>
The raspberry pi did not take 5 years of uphill fighting to make it
possible and now there are literally millions of them out there.<br>
The pi was a product that filled a unique need and because of that
it took off.<br>
<br>
If you want a reuse project to back then take a look at Project ARA
from google(<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Ara">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Ara</a>).<br>
Its the same kind of idea but a scope limited to a cell phone.<br>
It is also the right idea in that its taking something I use and
finding a way to expand it and make it more functional as oppose to
EOMA-68 where the idea is to take replace something I have with
something less functional in the hopes that someday there will be
the demand to make the less functional product cheap.<br>
<br>
The plug and play idea and re-use angles are nice but that is not
enough to build a technology ecosystem on its own.<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Alvin Starr || voice: (905)513-7688
Netvel Inc. || Cell: (416)806-0133
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:alvin@netvel.net">alvin@netvel.net</a> ||
</pre>
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