5 ms·

Opportunity for a startup to build a "hactor" that uses modern tech but is open source and easily modified with support of online communities etc? EDIT: I've g

Opportunity for a startup to build a "hactor" that uses modern tech but is open source and easily modified with support of online communities etc? EDIT: I've got patent dibs on the name "Hactor"

gcb0 11y ago
just like with cars bought by companies and rentals, construction and farm machines are bought mostly with the warranty in mind. just like in software, for every one nerd that wants to fix things themselves, there are millions who do not. and those folks don't even change the oil to not lose warranty. and newer models even phone home (to the dealer!) when the engine is being abused. and it's actually sold to the buyer as a feature, because the phone home system can be used in case of theft. do you rater sell one hactor or a million tractors?
- cconcepts 11y ago
  I would see the average farmer as a little different to your average car/cellphone user. As the article points out, getting things fixed quick and the ability to do it yourself for cheap are critical factors for many farmers and an integral part of their daily lives. I've worked on many farms and always spent a large chunk of my time fixing a tractor or other farm implement.
  - gcb0 11y ago
    i know. but farmers with ONE tractor are mostly ignore by dealer/makers. they mostly buy used. and couldn't care less about drm or dealer visits. now if you have over a dozen they will send people in less than 4h and invite you to expensive cocktail parties every quarter
netfire 11y ago
You may want to check out this TED talk and the corresponding site. I think its basically what you are talking about. - http://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski?language=en http://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski?language=en - http://opensourceecology.org/portfolio/tractor/ http://opensourceecology.org/portfolio/tractor/
- cconcepts 11y ago
  Thanks for the resources - great TED video
  - SolarNet 11y ago
    The exact problem in this article was the reason opensourceecology was made in the first place.
underscoremark 11y ago
https://vimeo.com/opensourceecology https://vimeo.com/opensourceecology

Opportunity for a startup to build a "hactor" that uses modern tech but is open source and easily modified with support of online communities etc? EDIT: I've got patent dibs on the name "Hactor"

gcb0 11y ago

just like with cars bought by companies and rentals, construction and farm machines are bought mostly with the warranty in mind. just like in software, for every one nerd that wants to fix things themselves, there are millions who do not. and those folks don't even change the oil to not lose warranty. and newer models even phone home (to the dealer!) when the engine is being abused. and it's actually sold to the buyer as a feature, because the phone home system can be used in case of theft. do you rater sell one hactor or a million tractors?

cconcepts 11y ago
I would see the average farmer as a little different to your average car/cellphone user. As the article points out, getting things fixed quick and the ability to do it yourself for cheap are critical factors for many farmers and an integral part of their daily lives. I've worked on many farms and always spent a large chunk of my time fixing a tractor or other farm implement.
- gcb0 11y ago
  i know. but farmers with ONE tractor are mostly ignore by dealer/makers. they mostly buy used. and couldn't care less about drm or dealer visits. now if you have over a dozen they will send people in less than 4h and invite you to expensive cocktail parties every quarter

netfire 11y ago

You may want to check out this TED talk and the corresponding site. I think its basically what you are talking about. - http://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski?language=en http://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski?language=en - http://opensourceecology.org/portfolio/tractor/ http://opensourceecology.org/portfolio/tractor/

cconcepts 11y ago
Thanks for the resources - great TED video
- SolarNet 11y ago
  The exact problem in this article was the reason opensourceecology was made in the first place.

underscoremark 11y ago

https://vimeo.com/opensourceecology https://vimeo.com/opensourceecology