"I'm shy on the idea of just selling it to anyone who comes along wanting a laptop. I'm worried about buyers who don't understand that "open" also means a bit of DIY hacking to get things working, and that things are continuously under development. This could either lead to a lot of returns, or spending the next four years mired in basic customer support instead of doing development; neither option appeals to me. So, I'm thinking that the order inquiry form will be a python or javascript program that has to be correctly modified and submitted via github; or maybe I'll just sell the kit of components..."
I hope he chooses the latter option.
If Bunnie is a "hacker's hacker" as someone else suggested in this thread, then I am confused why he believes the proper hoop to make a fellow "hacker" jump through is making sure they know some JavaScript or Python and how to upload to Github.
I thought "hacker's hackers", especially hardware hackers, were not the type to follow the path of least resistance, namely, JavaScript, Python and Github. Whereas, assembly and C (and FORTH, APL, Lisp, etc.) are the languages of the "hacker's hacker".
But that's just me. Maybe I am the only one. If so, pay no mind.
As I see it, the point is to set a minimum bar to filter out people who know nothing and end up coming back to complain. Presumably tinkerers who know at least the basic stuff would be willing to put the time into learning/doing the DIY hacking.
To set the bar any higher reeks to me of elitism (i.e. creating an "exclusive" club of "hackers"), which doesn't seem like his intent.
Comments
From Bunnie's page on his "open laptop" project:
"I'm shy on the idea of just selling it to anyone who comes along wanting a laptop. I'm worried about buyers who don't understand that "open" also means a bit of DIY hacking to get things working, and that things are continuously under development. This could either lead to a lot of returns, or spending the next four years mired in basic customer support instead of doing development; neither option appeals to me. So, I'm thinking that the order inquiry form will be a python or javascript program that has to be correctly modified and submitted via github; or maybe I'll just sell the kit of components..."
I hope he chooses the latter option.
If Bunnie is a "hacker's hacker" as someone else suggested in this thread, then I am confused why he believes the proper hoop to make a fellow "hacker" jump through is making sure they know some JavaScript or Python and how to upload to Github.
I thought "hacker's hackers", especially hardware hackers, were not the type to follow the path of least resistance, namely, JavaScript, Python and Github. Whereas, assembly and C (and FORTH, APL, Lisp, etc.) are the languages of the "hacker's hacker".
But that's just me. Maybe I am the only one. If so, pay no mind.
As I see it, the point is to set a minimum bar to filter out people who know nothing and end up coming back to complain. Presumably tinkerers who know at least the basic stuff would be willing to put the time into learning/doing the DIY hacking.
To set the bar any higher reeks to me of elitism (i.e. creating an "exclusive" club of "hackers"), which doesn't seem like his intent.