Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 10:59:30 +0100 (BST) From: Peter Galbavy <peter@wonderland.org> To: julian@ref.tfs.com (Julian Elischer) Cc: pss@fore.com, phk@ref.tfs.com, rv@fore.com, hackers@FreeBSD.org, announce@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: Drivers for FORE systems cards under FreeBSD Message-ID: <199505260959.KAA02446@alice.wonderland.org> In-Reply-To: <199505251945.MAA27592@ref.tfs.com> from "Julian Elischer" at May 25, 95 12:45:27 pm
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> If they just gave away the sources, and info > EVERYbody would use FORE stuff by default, and their position > as leaders would be strengthenned. > They would also be able to be in 'control' of the standard > in the same way that CSRG was the authorative voice on sockets and TCP/IP, > Fore would be the Authoratative voice in ATM interface technology. > Look at Hayes.. they are still in business purely because > they have the prestige of having their name in EVERY OTHER modem > manufacturer's manual.. > > If Fore were to make more information and sample drivers available, > it woukd do the company a lot of GOOD, short and Long term.. > as it is.. Fore will eventually fall prey to other companies. BUT, charging for development information is the classic symptom of companies that do not want to be around in a few years. They want to recoupe their costs *now*, not later, over a number of products lifetimes. They have a management/financial structure that only sees as far as the next set of accounts. Just take a look around if you don't believe me. All companies that have given away their development information have done real well, whilst others that haven't could have done so much better. Then there are the companies like Adaptec, that got to much of a corporate ego when launching a new family of products... Regards -- Peter Galbavy work: peter@demon.net Wonderland rest: peter@wonderland.org play: http://www.wonderland.org/ "The 'net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore
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