From: Touillaud Nicolas <Nicolas.Touillaud_at_fr.thalesgroup.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 09:57:09 +0100

Sorry for the delay...
First of all, I (well, I imagine all of us in fact..) agree with 99% of what
you all say: this is a bad method for making money, we bought the hardware
etc... (by the way, I'm certain the consumer already paid for the whole
hardware, in France for instance the law forbid you to sell something
cheaper than it costed you... Antitrust rulez :)
But your examples are wrong.
You talked about XBOX, it's exactly the same thing. This is pretty much a PC
(processor, ram, HD...). Like the avos when you buy it, you can use it for
its primary fonction: Play game on your xbox/Play music or video on the
avos.
But you cannot read a DVD movie before you buy the remote control. The
hardware is there though... you paid for it..
I'm not sure the XBOX is "encrypted" like any archos product.

(for the car example I read, it's not a car without gaz tank, it's a car
with a built-in audio sound system, but the front pannel is an option...)

In fact, only DMCA "allow" archos to sue people because there is an
encryption, but interoperability with the loader is something an expert
could take into account, well, I'm not one :)
The problem with this is not now, I don't really care about this specific
device, but your point of view is right: Archos is allowed by DMCA (or it's
european equivalent) to make us pay for a simple drivers.
I don't blame them for that, I'm not working for glory, but for money ! I
just think this is awefull for their reputation, once again, it's a
marketing choice.

But what will happen when harware will be encrypted (ex-palladium etc.) ? We
just won't be authorized (and probably won't be able) to add/remove/modify
any piece of software without the proper authorization: driver, OS,
softwares... But that not the place to debate of that subject.

I just hope Rockbox will not fall for a legal trick.

Well, have a good day !

Nicolas

-----Message d'origine-----
De : Fox [mailto:fox_at_woozle.org]
Envoyé : lundi 15 décembre 2003 18:30
À : rockbox_at_cool.haxx.se
Objet : Re: Avos and strategy (was: avos)


Well I can see your point. But, are they already charging consumers for the
hardware they built in? Or are they just charging you for the software? If
archos is not tacking on the extra costs for the hardware (sorta like the
XBOX), and it is made up by buying the software, I can understand that. But
its not a super idea. However, if the consumer is already paying for that
unusable hardware and then your charging money for basically "drivers" to
use it, then no, I can't agree even a little bit what that practice. Last
time I checked, most nVidia cards came with drivers from the manuafactor. If
the manufactor decided to charge money for the drivers, would they sue
nVidia for offering the drivers FREE on their website?

Anyway, these devices are basically computers. If your hardware offers no
protection against use other then lack of drivers, you are just asking for
it. :)
It sure hasn't stopped the development of linux :)

-Fox

>Boohoo !!! :D

>-and... frustration ! The ultimate feeling leading to consumption ! You can
>see the card reader, but cannot use it: AARRGGHHH !!! :)

>The only drawback is that their limitation is software only, so it can be
>easily broken. The solution for this is legal...

>Rockbox is only using the hardware (by the way, thank Jörg for the great
>work on video playing), it's not unlocking something locked on purpose.

>Ferengis in Star Trek DS9 ? Too long to explain, but they would aprove...
PS-Everyone hates the ferengis for being like that. :P

Of course, it's just my point of view,
PPS-I'm not trying to strat a flamewar, I think its just a matter of opinion
whether this is bad marketing or not.
Received on 2003-12-16