Hi Robert, How goes your music? --- Robert Jonsson &lt;rj(a)spamatica.se&gt; wrote: I haven't read it either and probably won't. My reaction is to put myself in the shoes of a manufacturer. My response wouldn't positive or possibly indifference. Maybe the campaign is being presented in a positive way, I wouldn't know. At the age of 43, I've begun to notice that the pressure method fails to get me what I want. I'm a slow learner. :) "You will be my girlfriend, work a full-time job, pay the bills and bare my children. I will write songs. Is their anything you don't understand?" I think persisting with requests is a good strategy. Maybe our methods need to be sharpened up. We have www.linuxaudio.org where part of the objective is to deal with issues like this. interesting because our numbers aren't great enough to return an investment or pay for ongoing costs. Our argument is that we're a low cost, self sufficient investment. I think we could select devices and find developers who are willing to write the drivers. Then sell our community and the developer to the manufacturers. From any business perspective, we have almost nothing to offer. I know that sounds harsh but it isn't all bad. We can be honest, respectful and carefully ask for help. <example_letter> Dear Manufacturer, We are asking you to assist the linux audio community by contributing item X. In return, we offer our gratitude and the "pie-in-the-sky" promises of a thriving young community. Our current accomplishments include; alsa drivers for X, Y, and Z. The applications that these devices are used with include X, Y and Z. Demographic statistics for our community can be found at www.linuxaudio.org. Upon recieving device X, you can expect Developer X, resume attached, to release a working linux driver by date X. As a rule, our community takes great pride in solving all challanges at no cost to contributing manufacturers and always fulfilling our agreements. </> The demographic statistics must exist and should be favorably presented; trends, etc. What hardware do we need, firewire stuff? OFF TOPIC NOISEY RAMBLE Part of me is satisfied that linux audio does not participate in consumorism that's being appealed to in every trade magazine. On a personal level, the need to consume is a veneer to mask any lack of discipline and talent that's required to produce great music. Along these lines, my current conondrum is whether or not to upgrade my drum kit. I began to study drums about a year ago. I average three hours of disciplined study every day. I focus on applying rudiments to the kit. The objective is to play every pattern bottom up or reversed to top down and left side start or right side start. I have a vision for the type of kit that would serve my objective. I know it would be much better than the typical layout that I have. To assemble it, will cost another $1,000.00. When I explained it to a friend who has been drumming for 30 years he laughed and replied, "ohhhh now you're innovative but the truth is that you're a dumbass." We both laughed. I am having so much fun learning to play the drums, why ruin the experience by do something stupid like spending money? Well, those are my rambling pre-coffee thoughts. ron "the anti-consumer" parker _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush