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Can someone point out a successful open source hardware effort? I'm tracking bug labs, open moko, and some router efforts. None are mainstream. None come close

Can someone point out a successful open source hardware effort? I'm tracking bug labs, open moko, and some router efforts. None are mainstream. None come close to the appeal of Apple products. Hardware is really hard. Most people reading TechCrunch probably don't understand this.

wmf 18y ago
Don't forget Neuros, Chumby, and OGP; I wouldn't call any of them successful.
utnick 18y ago
There are quite a few open source guitar effects pedals floating around...commercially successful? probably no.
Tichy 18y ago
Doesn't mean that hardware has to remain hard forever. Maybe something could be done to make it simpler. Some things already have been done. For example, it is very simple to build your own PC out of readymade components.
- corentin 18y ago
  By hard, we don't mean "difficult to understand and master"; one can learn electronics on his own in the same way he can learn programming. The tools and skills required are on par with software (well, the tools are usually better); it's just that hardware requires much more capital and time to build, and you have to deal with a lot of logistics and business issues. A small team with no capital can build a ready-to-ship software product. A small team with no capital can build a working hardware prototype, but the step from prototype to actual, ready-to-sell product requires lots of resources.
  - Tichy 18y ago
    And I think that can change, for example because of Rapid Prototyping, Build On Demand and so on.
krschultz 18y ago
Flying Tiger 10m - open source boat, raging success. $65,000 a pop and they have sold over 100.
- ivankirigin 18y ago
  sold over 100 != raging success
  - tjr 18y ago
    Generally not, but with a $65,000 price tag, it might be reasonably raging.
Paz 18y ago
I'd consider the Monome a successful open source hardware project. There are three production versions, a kit, and a lot of community created software. It is popular enough that they auction for over the original price and there is a waiting list to purchase them.

wmf 18y ago

Don't forget Neuros, Chumby, and OGP; I wouldn't call any of them successful.

utnick 18y ago

There are quite a few open source guitar effects pedals floating around...commercially successful? probably no.

Tichy 18y ago

Doesn't mean that hardware has to remain hard forever. Maybe something could be done to make it simpler. Some things already have been done. For example, it is very simple to build your own PC out of readymade components.

corentin 18y ago
By hard, we don't mean "difficult to understand and master"; one can learn electronics on his own in the same way he can learn programming. The tools and skills required are on par with software (well, the tools are usually better); it's just that hardware requires much more capital and time to build, and you have to deal with a lot of logistics and business issues. A small team with no capital can build a ready-to-ship software product. A small team with no capital can build a working hardware prototype, but the step from prototype to actual, ready-to-sell product requires lots of resources.
- Tichy 18y ago
  And I think that can change, for example because of Rapid Prototyping, Build On Demand and so on.

krschultz 18y ago

Flying Tiger 10m - open source boat, raging success. $65,000 a pop and they have sold over 100.

ivankirigin 18y ago
sold over 100 != raging success
- tjr 18y ago
  Generally not, but with a $65,000 price tag, it might be reasonably raging.

Paz 18y ago

I'd consider the Monome a successful open source hardware project. There are three production versions, a kit, and a lot of community created software. It is popular enough that they auction for over the original price and there is a waiting list to purchase them.