embedded devices and open source

[Tom Buskey]

On 2/23/07, Dan Jenkins <dan at rastech.com> wrote:
>
> Tom Buskey wrote:
>
> > I have 2 Linksys wrt54g routers myself and have recommended them to
> > others
> > because of the OS that I can modify after the warranty has expired/been
> > voided.  In fact, the L version exists only to satisfy customers that
> > want
> > the Linux version and will pay more for it.  I wonder what the ratio
> > of L to
> > non-L sales is.
>
> Purely guessing, but thousands to one most likely. Since retail stores
> don't carry them, the general populace will simply get what Best Buy has
> on the self. It is a niche product, since most folk (general populace
> again, not IT folk) don't care what the router runs, or even does, as
> long as it provides the function they want. Having said that, I've


I'm sure there are more non-L of course.


bought more than a dozen WRT54GL units in the last year. Over time, I'm
> replacing other units with them at various client sites. So, I'll be
> buying another couple of dozens by summer. Oftimes, there isn't an
> immediately compelling reason. The flexibility of being able to change
> the behavior in the future, however, is the motivation for upgrading.
> The artificial restrictions of the standard firmware limits me to having
> various special purpose devices. The various Linux firmwares allow me to
> create universal wireless router/access point/etc. devices, which can be
> molded to immediate needs and then reconfigured for future, different
> needs.


And that's exactly why they keep the L model.   I wonder how much they saved
going with Vxworks and less ram?  More then the price difference I bet.
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