Drivers for FORE systems cards under FreeBSD

[Peter Galbavy]

> 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 at demon.net
Wonderland					rest: peter at wonderland.org
						play: http://www.wonderland.org/
"The 'net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore