[Arm-netbook] proposal for GNU Netbook project

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 11:55 AM, Michelle Konzack
<linux4michelle at tamay-dogan.net> wrote:

> Maybe we should REALY design a simpe Netbook our own

 yes - i have contacted richard stallman to see if it could be listed
as a GNU Project.  he said that as long as it passes the GNU Project
criteria, then yes.  however he did point out that normally there has
to be something to review, in order for it to become a gnu project,
and unless the hardware _exists_, it can't be matched against the
criteria! :)  but i am sure we will work it out.

 the reason for doing that - listing it as a GNU project - is to get
some PR.  the point is that we need to reach "critical mass" of at
least 1,000 to 10,000 units, with at least 60% preorders.

 basically i'd like to follow in the footsteps of the success of the
openpandora project.

> lieke the one from
>
>    <http://www.touchkit.com/>

 is this the one that was $48 for a motherboard "shell" ?

> but less expensive. The design does not require complex structures to be
> calculated and can easyly manufactured

 no, precisely.  the only complex bit is the SO-DIMM with CPU+RAM+NAND
(and i have a plan for that) and the rest is much simpler engineering.

>> any other guesses, anyone, and any ideas on strategies to help
>> chitech?   abandoning the machine rather than comply with the GPL
>> is... insane - it can't be right, there _has_ to be something else
>> going on.
>
> Hmmm...
>
>> i thought about asking them if they could merely provide a copy of the
>> engineer's hard drive: that would take absolutely zero of his time,
>> but i was going to offer that _after_ they agreed to comply.
>>
>> i wasn't expecting total abandonment of the product.
>>
>> ideas, anyone?
>
> I have contacted <http://www.AdoptSMT.at/> for used  machines  (Printer,
> Placer and Reflow) and a second german enterprise which  sells  machines
> to manufacturer the PCB.

 _excellent_.

 ... do remember however that a production run of say only 1,000 units
means that the total money for the materials will be only around
$100,000 - that's all!  so if there are costs of even $20,000 that
adds 20% to the price!!  but, if it's 10,000 units then that's much
much better ($1m): $20,000 is only 2% on the price.

> Now I need an enterprise which sell used mulding machines...

 don't consider repraps - you spend too much time modifying and repairing them.

> Then I have only to design the PCB, the case and I  now  MANY  cool  :-D
> Linux Developer which take over the rest...

 :)

> No dependance on flaky chinese manufacturers.  --  I realy have enough!
>
> If you have no one in China, which kick them into there ass, nothing  is
> working as expected.

 ... or you have something they can copy.