[linux-audio-user] Re: RME is no more

[Marek Peteraj]

On Mon, 2004-11-29 at 21:57, Fernando Lopez-Lezcano wrote:
> On Mon, 2004-11-29 at 12:16, Marek Peteraj wrote:
> > On Mon, 2004-11-29 at 16:59, Jack O'Quin wrote:
> > > Joe Hartley <jh at brainiac.com> writes:
> > > > > I think if RME believes releasing the data on their Firewire audio
> > > > poses a threat to their competitive edge, they probably have a point.
> > > 
> > > Right or wrong, it is their business and their choice.
> > > 
> > > > While I'm a huge fan of OSS, I have to respect when companies like
> > > > NVidia release binary-only drivers for a device.  I'm just glad that
> > > > they do, when so many companies will only release for Windoze, or for
> > > > Windoze and Mac only.  I think NVidia's support, for example, is as good
> > > > for Linux as it is for any other platform.  Do all bugs get fixed?
> > > > Nope, and they don't in 99% of OSS projects, either.
> > > 
> > > I believe in free speech, and this includes the right to remain
> > > silent.  Insisting that RME release code when they would rather not
> > > violates *their* freedom. 
> > 
> > Jack, i think it rather violates the freedom of their *customers* to use
> > the product they've purchased with the OS of their choice. 
> 
> Sorry but you are wrong, the "freedom" of users is not affected by RME's
> decision to not release information. Users have the freedom to chose
> what they buy. They are not forced to buy a particular card. If they buy
> it and they did not know it was not supported under linux (either
> because they did not do the required homework before buying, or they did
> the homework and still the card does not work) they should return it and
> buy something else.  

What if there's nothing else you can buy? Which very much seems to be
the situation with linux audio (expect egosys) in the next 2 years or so
when all already supported cards will be discontinued. The future seems
to be firewire. Presonus, mackie, apogee, maudio, echo, TC, edirol,
digidesign, motu, terratec, metric halo, egosys, tascam,
......................... ;)

Now let's *guess* who of those companies will provide specs. ;)

Seems like not even M-Audio will, according to Pieters information. RME,
long time specs provider, said clear NO.

Guys, please, don't be naive(no offense intended of course), we're
pretty much f*cked if we don't do somehting about it. Let's not act like
a sleeping beauty dreaming of hw manufacturer's openness "one day".


> 
> If the user wants __that__ card and nothing else will do, then politely
> (yes, being polite will get you further than being rude)

The worst nightmare for every company is unsatisfied customer, the more
the better chance to achieve *something*.


>  ask the vendor
> to support it.

I think i asked politely the first time. I don't think i got a polite
answer(which isn't necessarily YES in this case ;). 

>  If the vendor still decides to not support it then buy
> something else and tell the vendor about your decision. 
> "Trashing the company" (ie: the equivalent of throwing a tantrum when
> you are a little kid to get what you want) will not help, it will just
> make us linux users look like little kids throwing a tantrum[*], IMHO.

No i absolutely don't think so. I don't think i ever will. Treating
companies kindly when they don't offer what they already should is just
boosting their egos so that they can show you their finger next time you
need something. It happens always.

In better cases, they just don't do anything unless they see a few
hundred people waving their hands saying 'HELLO', which is
understandable. In any case it's *important* for us to do so.

Marek