>From one point of view, the purpose of firmware updates is to fix bugs
and occasionally to add some minor features. Once they "get it
right", there is little need to issue more revisions, especially
if/when a model is discontinued. The Orion is only partly orphaned
now, because of its close similarity to Orion II. That's good, as
long as the code base can stay substantially the same for the two
models.
>From another point of view, the ham "industry" is moving toward SDR,
where more and more of the features and capabilities of a system are
in its software. Eventually, the hardware fades away, cost-wise, and
TT and other vendors become software houses. Then, their revenue
needs to be tied to the software. So we could see Orion 2006, Orion
2007, and so on, just like Windows, Quicken (or N4PY!). Either we buy
a shrinkwrap update when we feel like it, or we buy a maintenance
contract to get the latest and greatest.
As it is now, a good chunk of your purchase price must cover software
engineering and future maintenance. (And the vendor has little
incentive to keep working on software after a hardware model is
discontinued.) In the new model, hardware can be sold more cheaply and
the vendor makes his money on the continuing software updates. Sounds
good to me.
Even better, the vendors make money by facilitating and supporting a
free and open-source software process (with voluntary donations
requested! :-), but that's another story.
73, Martin AA6E
On 1/13/06, Rich McCabe <r.mccabe@1967z28.com> wrote:
> "I fully expect the Orion firmware to be enhanced at regular intervals for
> several years to come."
>
> Kind of like the Jupiter? ;)
>
> 73,
>
> Rich
> kd0zv
>
>
>
> >I fully expect the Orion firmware to be enhanced at regular intervals for
> > several years to come.
> >
> > Carl Moreschi N4PY
> > 121 Little Bell Drive
> > Bell Mountain
> > Hays, NC 28635
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Duane A Calvin" <ac5aa@juno.com>
> > To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 5:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] stable software
> >
> >
> >> I guess we're all entitled to our opinions, but TT has said that (at
> >> least) version 2.x will be available for the original Orion, so I'm not
> >> sure how you're arriving at your final pronouncement.
> >>
> >> 73, Duane
> >>
> >>
> >> On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:57:09 -0600 "Ken Waites" <BARBIEKENW@peoplepc.com>
> >> writes:
> >> > Look at the software for past products. You will note some are years
> >> > since update.
> >> >
> >> > What that means is that that product became "back burner" and
> >> > nothing new was developed for it.
> >> >
> >> > A stable release of software puts it to bed so the limited resources
> >> > can be spent on the flagship newer
> >> > product which is where new business will come from.
> >> > You KNOW you are not going to see
> >> > something radical for the OMNI 6+ rig -- no matter how sucessful a
> >> > product it was.
> >> >
> >> > The same is true for the ORION. The website clearly states that.
> >> > New development will be put into features, bells and whistles, that
> >> > the faster/bigger computer in the O2
> >> > can support, such as the outboard display they have mentioned,
> >> > mayber newer DSP code, .
> >> >
> >> > I expect one more release of software for the ORION, and that will
> >> > be it.
> >> >
> >> > Then it will be ORION II only releases.
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > TenTec mailing list
> >> > TenTec@contesting.com
> >> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> Duane Calvin, AC5AA
> >> Austin, Texas
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> TenTec mailing list
> >> TenTec@contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
--
martin.ewing@gmail.com
http://blog.aa6e.net
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