Grant Youngman wrote:
You try to compare apples and oranges. Obviously, you can't
insert your Mersedes into DVD writer and make another copy.
Isn't that all the factory does? :-)
Of course, factory does ;-)
However, this is much cheaper to buy own DVD writer than some car
assembling factory even Chinese one ;-) This is the difference.
I just don't susbscribe to the notion that someday, through the good hearts,
fine intentions, selfless generosity, and late nights work for no recompense
of our fellow hams and other industrious individuals, all necessary software
will be free, open or not. Nothing is free -- well maybe sunlight, at least
for now ..
This is anecdotal evidence that you may make money on free software. So,
you may charge for support, customization and stuff like that. This is a
business like other ones. On the other hand, if you skilled enough, you
may use if for free and pay for it indirectly such as through some piece
of code contribution. Believe you or not, this development model works
well. Of course this is not absolutely free.
Nevertheless, I believe open source is better than proprietary just
because I have opportunity to customize stuff accordingly my own needs
and fix critical bugs myself.
I've got a strong supposition that TT would improve the quality of
firmware just to make it open. Based on history of firmware changes I've
got an strong supposition they just have not enough time for proper
unit test suite or have no time or money to make full/almost full
automation test coverage of their software. This is ridiculous, they fix
one feature and another becomes broken. If they just have no time to do
that, they may have found free developers just by publishing code on
sourceforge.net. Have no idea why they afraid to do that. Their
protected by copyright firmware is not a rocket science and can't be
launched on ICOM and YAESU rigs ;-)
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