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If everyone goes with the cheap Chinese clone, you can't have either. Because those cheap clones are so cheap because there is little to no R&D required. No sof

by jjeaff 5y ago

If everyone goes with the cheap Chinese clone, you can't have either. Because those cheap clones are so cheap because there is little to no R&D required. No software stack to create, etc. Because all of that work is being done by the more expensive, original brands. Support is likely only a small part of the cost.

II2II 5y ago
I have to disagree with your blanket statement. In some cases what you say is true, the cheap clone is piggybacking on the R&D of someone else. Yet the situation is definitely not so clearcut in the case of many development boards. The heart of a development board is the MCU. Assuming a genuine component is being used, the software stack is typically provided by the vendor of the MCU. The supporting circuitry is either well known or provided in the vendor's datasheets. In the case of basic boards, there is not much R&D happening. It is also worth noting that the software stack for many boards is open source. Let's ignore the compilers. They're typically based upon GCC, thus open source, but they are typically supported by the MCU vendor which is supported by MCU sales. Consider something like Arduino and MicroPython. Some board vendors undoubtedly invest in them, but it is open source. Others can use the products of their labours. Equally important, others can contribute to them. The board vendors who invest in the software also benefit from contributions. On top of all of that, Chinese firms aren't the only ones making clones and Chinese firms do more than create clones. For example: I haven't heard anything about Espressif parts being clones of original brands.
dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago
I completely disagree. The main issue is: can you produce a good product and sell it for a good price? Because there are many excellent products that are simply to expensive and the market simply ignores them or they're being used in niches. But if you succeed in offering an inexpensive good product, people will do things for you. Espressif did that and what people are doing with these modules and boards is amazing.

by jjeaff 5y ago

II2II 5y ago

I have to disagree with your blanket statement. In some cases what you say is true, the cheap clone is piggybacking on the R&D of someone else. Yet the situation is definitely not so clearcut in the case of many development boards. The heart of a development board is the MCU. Assuming a genuine component is being used, the software stack is typically provided by the vendor of the MCU. The supporting circuitry is either well known or provided in the vendor's datasheets. In the case of basic boards, there is not much R&D happening. It is also worth noting that the software stack for many boards is open source. Let's ignore the compilers. They're typically based upon GCC, thus open source, but they are typically supported by the MCU vendor which is supported by MCU sales. Consider something like Arduino and MicroPython. Some board vendors undoubtedly invest in them, but it is open source. Others can use the products of their labours. Equally important, others can contribute to them. The board vendors who invest in the software also benefit from contributions. On top of all of that, Chinese firms aren't the only ones making clones and Chinese firms do more than create clones. For example: I haven't heard anything about Espressif parts being clones of original brands.

dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago

I completely disagree. The main issue is: can you produce a good product and sell it for a good price? Because there are many excellent products that are simply to expensive and the market simply ignores them or they're being used in niches. But if you succeed in offering an inexpensive good product, people will do things for you. Espressif did that and what people are doing with these modules and boards is amazing.