Slashdot Mirror
Hacking Samsung 4510-Based APs
zoobab writes "Some belgian linux hackers met this week-end to hack some wireless access points based on the samsung4510 chip. They have succeeded in compiling and booting a uClinux kernel on a Dlink 614ap+, which is equipped with the infamous acx100 wireless chipset. There's still some work to do, but if you want to help, open your 22mbps AP and try to built your own JTAG adaptator to get access to the flash..."
Especially since virtually all such efforts result in a device less flexible, less reliable and harder to use than the original. (XBox?)
Perhaps combining these various pools of skill (which I do not minimalize or trivialize for a moment) and supporting some real helpful and Linux-promoting projects would be a better use of resources?
For instance, if Linux is to be a real competitor to Windows, how about using these skills to build simple distros and simple methods of installing and uninstalling apps on them that do not require arcane command line utilities and other tasks. Just insert the CD or click on the download and be done.
Usability based on installability is the achilles heel of Linux for the masses.
Until folks realize this and redirect their efforts to more useful pursuits, installing Linux by destroying a perfectly good AP is no more useful than installing it on a stapler.
Right now, a typical PC user without Linux is like an Astronaut without an accordian.
A cook is nice. Cookbooks are better.
People make free drivers because the stupid devices are everwhere but limited by software. It takes lots of capital to make semiconductor devices, so there are only a few companies that do. Because of this, almost all hardware uses one of a dozen chipsets made for that kind of device. This is why Knoppix fits on a single CD and recognizes thousands of devices. Once you get a free driver, many devices can be used and you don't have to go out and buy a new one because the vendor does not make a non-free driver for the next eXPensive OS from M$. There are enough people interested in free drivers to get them. The pace is picking up and the quality is very impressive. Device drivers are a showcase of the effieciency of free software development. Everyone wins when a device driver comes out.
Especially since virtually all such efforts result in a device less flexible, less reliable and harder to use than the original. (XBox?)
Now you are a real troll. Obviously an Xbox that both runs M$'s games AND free software is more felxible than an Xbox that only plays M$ games.
Usability based on installability is the achilles heel of Linux for the masses.
So is the ignorance you display, except it's much easier to hit than a tendon.
installing Linux by destroying a perfectly good AP is no more useful than installing it on a stapler.
A stapler does not do iptables, run configuration utilities over a web server or act as a meshpoint. More importantly, your stapler won't tell other people about your bank account, herpese medication and other stuff most people would like to keep to themselves.
Right now, a typical PC user without Linux is like an Astronaut without an accordian.
A typical comercial software user is much like a typical free software user, except they are $400 poorer, have no privacy, suffer frequent crashes, and have to buy all new hardware every three years. Oh wait, that's nothing like the typical Linux user.
t intruder, you don't get paid enough to write such drivel but you are not worth what you are paid.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Free software won't keep you from Xbox Live, Microsoft will. They will kick you off Microsoft live if they detect mods of any type. Non free software is like that, oops. Go buy a Play Station instead of a M$ gimped, 700MHz PeeeCeeee if you really want to play games. Sony does a better job at Linux too, Go figure.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Go back to Redmond, troll
... Everyone wins when a device driver comes out.
The man was talking about how we can make Linux more accessible to people who don't know much about how a pc works. He seems to be someone who likes the Open-Source Project as much as me, or you, or the next guy.
I don't fully agree with him either. Hey, if you like the idea of running Linux on everything around you, nothing stops you from trying it, right? (except for that evil DMCA mb) However, because you seem to see everything black-white ('us' vs. 'them'), you wrongfully classified him as an M$-lover, which he is clearly not.
Although most of your arguments perfectly make sense, let me just respond to some of them.
People make free drivers
This is very true, the more hardware is supported by Linux the better. However, we are not talking about device drivers here, we are talking about embedding Linux into various devices.
t intruder, you don't get paid enough to write such drivel but you are not worth what you are paid.
Didn't quite understand this, sorry. Looked offensive anyway. Can't we all just get along?
"Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun."