Re: [Patents] computer.org article

[Philippe Coulonges <cphil@cphil.net>]

Le Lundi 03 Juin 2002 04:59, Gregory Aharonian a écrit :
> >No. With only a 1000$ machine, ten fingers and my brain I can design
> > software, realize a prototype, test it, fine tune it, distribute it. 
> > That's not true with hardware.
>
> With only a 1000$ machine, ten fingers and my brain I can design hardware
> (using open source CAE tools), test it, fine tune it, and distribute the
> VHDL (or similar code) for others to load into their FPGAs coprocessor
> boards.  Indeed, the selling of hardware designs is a hundred million
> dollar a year business (such as processor cores and network chips).  Not
> once do the hardware designers ever get physical.  They are too busy trying
> to make money and run a business.

You're still wrong.
I'll pass on the fact that you restricted your claim from 'conceiving 
hardware' to 'conceiving electronic hardware'.
I'll pass on the fact that you put yourself in the glorious word where free 
software exists at no cost (and not open source which doesn't mean a thing in 
that context), which in itself calls for a world without swpats.
Still, a young and talented person could certainly design a brilliant piece 
of 
work, but he certainly would not pass the prototype, test, fine tuning and 
distribution parts with its 1000$ budget. He could simulate, but not realize 
a thing. He will have a hell of a day trying to convince enterprises to get 
him a chance to see his work functionning in the real world.
Unless he is willing to pay. Physical things need a capitalistic approach not 
needed in the information business.

CU
CPHIL

-- 
C'est un joli nom camarade,
c'est un joli nom, tu sais ?
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