[ale] Building linux entertainment devices

[Christopher Fowler]

Building hardware is totally different than writing software. There
is much more investment involve din hardware devices.  For one thing,
you do not have to have your software FCC or CE certified.  Depedning on
the complexity of the hardware that can costs thousands of follars.

I think what Zack was talking about was the fact that if you wanted to
recreate the device that Tivo built then you can do it.  Any one can do it.
But you need to accept the fact that you'll also have to recreate the effort
that went into building that device.  How long did it take them and how
many engineers did it take?  

Sure Linus created Linux but look how many years it took Linux to get up to 
the level that many OS's like AIX were at when he started.  

If you want to build your own Tivo like device for educational purposes then
that is a good ide.  If your trying to keep from buying a Tivo and the subscription 
you are oing something dumb.  You'll waste more time and effor trying to save
a few bucks then buying a good quality product to begin with. With Tivo you
get much bang for your buck.

If you have not created and marketed a hardware device then you are understating
the capital investment that is required to create a *quality* product.  It is
no easy task.  If you do have investment there are consultants that can help
get you started in the right direction from an embedded point of view.  I have
one guy that works for me that would probably love toy work on this project.  But
he gets paid for everything including OSS development.

Chris
  


On Fri, Dec 26, 2003 at 08:11:02AM -0500, Brian J. Dowd wrote:
> Zack;
> Obstacles noted. Eyes open. Now that *that's* out of the way, move forward!
> I heard a story about some young Finnish kid who wanted to make his own 
> Unix-like OS.
> He probably should have listened to the others and just given up on that 
> impossible idea...
> -Brian J. Dowd, DDS
> 
> >Millions were spent to do this by ZapMedia which I believe is now out of 
> >business.  The problem is if you want "PC" quality sound and video yes you 
> >can do it.  If you want dolby digital sound and Tivo quality output, then 
> >you have got a long way to go and the base you can start with now is much 
> >better; however, your going to need lots of money to buy in the quantities 
> >necessary to bring the price down enough for it to work and you will need 
> >custom hardware or custom hardware (chips) embedded onto your custom 
> >motherboard.
> >
> >On Tuesday 23 December 2003 04:40 pm, zack wrote:
> > 
> >
> >>I am interested in examining the possiblity of building a Linux-based
> >>networked entertainment device.  My main goals are not a one off, use
> >>spare parts type of project, but more of looking into the possibility of
> >>building a prototype for mass produced device.  The software would be a
> >>slimmed down or RTOS Linux kernel, plus open source software.
> >>Capabilities would include networking, video and /or sound output.  IDE
> >>devices for HDD and CD/DVD would probably be required, as well as
> >>(likely) PC-Card support.  CPU-wise I am thinking a low-end Intel/AMD or
> >>higher end alternative CPU like you might see in some embedded devices.
> >>So yeah, it's pretty much a PC, but non Intel/AMD would be considered
> >>if they can handle the video.
> >>
> >>I need to get an idea of the types of hardware platforms suitable for
> >>this type of device, and the software development I would need to do, to
> >>get some idea of how much it would cost to do, as well as how much
> >>develoment work would need to be done (I assume certain systems could
> >>just have minimal kernel  and OSS code compiled, while others might need
> >>porting or tweaking or something).
> >>
> >>If anyone has any experience or insight into this sort of a project and
> >>would care to share, I would appreciate it.
> >>
> >>Thanks,
> >>
> >>Zack
> >>
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> >>   
> >>
> >
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> >
> 
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