[Musix-users] Re: GINA24 firmware issue

Thu Jun 29 23:39:35 CEST 2006

Hola MNO:

Bravo!
I fowarded it to RMS

Thanks

> On 6/29/06, Sales <sales at echoaudio.com> wrote:
> > MNO wrote:
> > > Dear EchoAudio Management,
> > >
> > > I'm a Gina24 owner and I'm trying to get it working on a Gnu/Linux
> > > Live CD named MUSIX (A complete OS + all the software to make music
> > > that can run from CD instead of a Harddisk) http://www.musix.org.ar/
> > >
> > > The Musix distro is based on GNU GPL and thus it impossible for them
> > > to include the Gina24 firmware on their CD.
> > >
> > > Now, since i bought a Gina24 i find it a bit strange that i cant use a
> > > perfectly fine tool because of a simple issue like this. I now own the
> > > hardware, but may not use it because of a licence issue. Is there a
> > > way to make the firmware available, and open a bigger market for your
> > > products, by making it possible to distribute it?
> > >
> > > If i can use my 'old' hardware until it is realy old, then i'm
> > > mostlikely to buy from the same manufacturer once i realy need to
> > > upgrade. Now i'm almost forced to buy from another company that DOES
> > > enable me to work with GNU GPL software.
> > >
> > > And since this hardware might be already 'old' form your perspective,
> > > is it eventually possible to provide the GNU/Linux users the complete
> > > info to build their own firmware? I'm very disappointed that I'm not
> > > able to use the product that i now OWN. (i paid a lot of money for it)
> > >
> > > I know it is possible to get the interface working under GNU/Linux
> > > when the drivers and firmware are installed and configured on a
> > > harddisk. (with a lot of hassle to configure due to firmware that can
> > > not be distributed)  But in case of a live CD distro then the current
> > > licence forbids it to distribute the firmware.
> > >
> > > And on top of all this, the firmware is only usable on the hardware,
> > > and thus those people need to be your customers after all.
> > >
> > > Please give it some thought.
> > >
> > > I'll be glad to help and find the right people to get this working.
> > >
> > > The most direct approach would be contacting Richard Stallman
> > > rms at gnu.org.
> > >
> > > It would be great to see all EchoAudio hardware listed there
> > > http://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/soundcards/
> > >
> > > Please let me know your standpoint, so that i know if i need upgrade
> > > to an alternative, or that i'm able to keep using the EchoAudio
> > > GINA24. And that i can upgrade to another EchoAudio product somewhere
> > > in the future.
> > >
> > >
> > > Kind Regards,
> > >
> > > Mano Stienen
> >
> > Mano -
> >
> > Sorry, we supply open source for our software but we have no intention
> > of providing open source for our firmware.  We are not a non-profit
> > organization, and our firmware license agreements are a vital part of
> > our business.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Echo Sales
>
> Thanks for the quick reply, but...
>
> Your hardware is a vital part of many businesses, please do not ignore
> the fact that MANY people are moving to GNU and they will get into the
> very same issues like me. All respect for doing business, nothing
> wrong with that, but you are missing out on a whole new market, and
> you will also lose cusomers.  Once again, please help me to get the
> GINA24 working under GNU GPL, i paid a small fortune for that hardware
> and now you are stabbing me in the back.
>
> I find it strange that it aint possible to communicate with some
> people to get to a solution that opens a market for your business, and
> enables  YOUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS to use YOUR products, and keep YOUR
> brandname high profile.
>
> A short reply like that, on an issue like this, does not make sence
> for a company that works on a global scale, in a market that depends
> on innovation.
>
> On your website you write: "Echo products deliver cutting-edge
> solutions for home and studio musicians, the broadcast industry, the
> home entertainment market, and various OEM manufacturers. This family
> of products leverages the Company's extensive experience in both the
> PC market and DSP-based audio technology."
>
> If this aint an oppertunity to provide a CUTTING EDGE solution then i
> don't know what your company is about.
>
> Sorry for being Dutch and telling my toughts straigh from the heart.
> I'm just 99,9% sure that there must be a solution and from a business
> point of view that would be a better option then dumping EXISTING
> customers.
>
> In this hectic information society, true communication seems to be
> forgotten sometimes... please take a moment to breath, think, and give
> it a try. You might gain some new customers or lose atleast one.
> Still..., i trust in the communication skills of EchoAudio.
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Mano Stienen.

-- 
Marcos Guglielmetti  
* Director del desarrollo de Musix GNU+Linux, 100% Software Libre
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