[COMP] Re: Printers

> > Does it understand Postscript?  If it does, you shouldn't have any
> > trouble getting it to work in Linux.
> >
> > John
>
> Plus, driver source code sometimes gives away the architecture of the
> hardware, which is key to there 'business secrets' and having a high-end
> printer, I'm sure it has a lot of them.

Now see, you've gone and mentioned the "business secrets" argument.  Now 
I'm gonna have to get medieval....

These companies have business secrets, granted.  But they also have 
patents for these secrets- and that's why the patent system is in place.  
To keep your source code private to protect these secrets is incredibly 
foolish for a number of reasons:

1) Compiled code can be disassembled to reveal the original code (or very 
close to it) anyway. 
2) Hardware (and drivers) can be reverse-engineered anyway, and usually is.
3) The big counter-argument:  Are you *selling* the driver?  Of course 
not, the CD comes [free] with the hardware.  You're making absolutely no 
profit off of the driver, since it's usually available for free on your 
website anyway.  

You sell the *hardware,* and here's the big marketing trick to open 
source: by giving away the source to your driver, you're showing others 
how to get your *hardware* to work with *their* platform.  Your 
architecture secrets are protected by patents for a number of years, in 
which time the technology will be practically useless anyway.  By keeping 
your drivers open, you're ensuring compatibility with any platform/OS that 
wants to use your hardware, thus opening your hardware to new markets 
*without ANY extra effort on your part.*  

Now, if I want to get a new printer (I find them useless, but just in 
case...), I wouldn't buy a Xerox.  I don't care how good it is, I don't, 
and can't afford to run Windows, nor do I care to.  I'm going to head over 
to the printer compatibility database 
(http://www.linuxprinting.org/printer_list.cgi) and pick out a printer 
with a driver that's been opened, or at least one that's been worked 
around.  If only Xerox had opened their driver, they might have my 
business.  

So there you have it.  Sorry if I hurt any feelings. :)

John


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