[linux-audio-user] usb controller keyboards

Rob lau at kudla.org
Tue Aug 16 12:14:33 EDT 2005


On Tuesday 16 August 2005 11:51, Lee Revell wrote:
> Please don't bring up the "non-free firmware" debate, it's really a
> non issue.  Linus' position is that the firmware does not run on
> the host CPU and thus is unaffected by the GPL licensing of the

Obviously it IS an issue if you have to use someone else's Windows box 
to extract the firmware and if that means your USB keyboard is not 
going to be plug and play under Linux.  It's a practical 
consideration, not just some academic or religious debate, and it 
keeps Linux users from using this gear just the same as with 
Winmodems.  Why buy something you know you're going to have to mess 
with for a couple hours (I know, I know, if you have a Windows 
machine handy it's a couple minutes.... I myself don't) when there 
are alternatives that need no messing with?

I have an Edirol PCR-30 and it just worked when I plugged it in.  I 
didn't mention it previously because it wasn't in the list of boards 
he was asking about, but it is a nice little portable board and it 
works fine (under Mandrake 10.1, no idea about Debian or anything 
else.)

Rob





More information about the Linux-audio-user mailing list