Pinebook: An Affordable 64-bit ARM based Open Source Notebook

Re:Pinebook: An Affordable 64-bit ARM based Open Source Note... by ShroudedNight on Wednesday April 18, 2018 @11:38AM (#16868224)

> Hardware drivers is not their business, nor is releasing docs that might allow someone else to write a driver.

Is there a third road to device support? What's the point of selling hardware if you're not going to provide any sort of path to enablement?

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Re:Pinebook: An Affordable 64-bit ARM based Open Source Note... by throwaway2048 on Wednesday April 18, 2018 @11:46AM (#16868293)

This is a question that has puzzled linux devs for a long time.

Why the hell release a linux only device, marketed at the DIY/hardcore user with no, or very limited ways to actually use the damn hardware? (like being stuck on some ancient kernels with 3.24x10^43 remote holes)

Its pretty astonishing, and seems to be primarily driven over paranoia about IP/patents.

After the answer a lawyer is always going to give to the question "Is there legal risk here" is yes, companies arnt going to do better until we demand they do.

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Re:Pinebook: An Affordable 64-bit ARM based Open Source Note... by bluGill on Wednesday April 18, 2018 @11:50AM (#16868328)

I'm sure they release documentation - under NDA - to companies buying this. However the legalese probably makes it impossible to use those documents to release the source to a linux driver.

Hackers like us are not a large market. Those who need a lot of CPUs for something that nobody even realizes has a CPU are ultimately a much larger market.

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