Re: [Fsuk-manchester] Project Novena

[Bob Ham]

On 2014-04-04 14:40, Leslie I'Anson wrote:
> On 4 April 2014 10:37, Bob Ham <address@hidden> wrote:

> > I am totally dumbfounded by what they've done.  We could have had a 
> > free
> > hardware laptop.  Alas.
>
> I understand your concerns Bob however, I fear that if the Novena 
> were
> not referred to as a "laptop" it may not have received the same 
> amount
> of publicity/interest.

I appreciate your comments and taking the time to engage on this topic.

However, I don't understand your argument here.  You're right, it 
wouldn't have received as much attention but that's as it should be; 
what's been produced is nowhere near as noteworthy as a free hardware 
laptop.  And that's what's crazy: it *could* have been noteworthy.  The 
prototypes *were* noteworthy.

You seem to be arguing that the project should receive more attention 
than it would otherwise be worthy of.  And if that's the case, I do 
wonder why?


> "...Huang says this is actually what most users he's talked to 
> prefer."
>
> I wonder who these users are...?  Who knows, maybe they're lapless?

Yeah I saw that and scratched my head about it.  There's another quote 
which is quite critical as well:

"That might make it hard to actually use the laptop on your lap"

Right, it's not actually a laptop :-)


> Anyway, to my mind, the project should not be discredited on account
> of bad wording.

I think the project *was* admirable.  I'm just amazed and overwhelmed 
with disappointment over what they've ended up producing.

I also think there's a serious problem in their use of the word 
"laptop" to advertise it but that's a problem with the business rather 
than the project.


> The fact is, it is open source hardware so if you
> don't like it you are free to change and improve it!  As the article
> states;
>
> "You can also buy just the motherboard for $500 and use it with your
> own case."

Putting aside the fact that I don't have the time to do this, buying a 
motherboard and making a case wouldn't be enough.  I'd also need a 
display controller and most critically, the battery controller.  Those 
items aren't available as a kit.  In order to get hold of them, one has 
to buy either the crazy box or the ridiculously-priced luxury object.


> You could always start your own Crowd Supply project for a laptop
> chassis which includes an integrated keyboard and right-way-up
> screen...

Again, I don't have the time.  Bunnie had the time.  Bunnie produced a 
laptop prototype.  Bunnie was close to making a free hardware laptop.  
Bunnie decided to do make something else instead.  Alas :-/

--
Bob Ham <address@hidden>

for (;;) { ++pancakes; }