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I wouldn't begrudge Microchip their business model if they would drop this "open source" claim. Here's the first sentence of their press release about the ChipK

I wouldn't begrudge Microchip their business model if they would drop this "open source" claim. Here's the first sentence of their press release about the ChipKit: "Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, and Digilent, Inc. today launched the first 32-bit-microcontroller-based, open-source development platform that is compatible with Arduino™ hardware and software." As someone who makes a 32-bit-microcontroller-based development platform that is actually open-source, I don't want them claiming membership in my tribe. It's like exaggerating the specs of your hardware-- don't call it 1 GHz if it only runs at 800 MHz. Of course, it would even better if they would join the open source tribe for real-- maybe I could have stood on their shoulders instead of next to them.

ptorrone 15y ago
it's worse than that... chipKIT isn't even the first "32-bit-microcontroller-based, open-source development platform" - maple is. http://leaflabs.com/devices/maple/ http://leaflabs.com/devices/maple/ when chipKIT met with us before launch (adafruit, limor fried and myself) we said this wasn't the first one along with a lot of other things we wanted to see them address and change, they didn't.
- pingswept 15y ago
  (Hi pt!) I think you left out "Arduino-compatible." But I agree with the sentiment-- that's definitely poor form exhibited by Microchip.
  - ptorrone 15y ago
    that's right! they also said with that "Arduino-compatible" and on the box it said "100% arduino compatible" - it wasn't. and they called it "Uno" which is the same name as the latest arduino :(
    - pingswept 15y ago
      Back in the 90's, I was something of a PIC fanboy because their documentation was so damn good, and the PIC16F84 was great to learn on. Are they just jerks now, or is there some more charitable explanation? Obviously, the company is filled with all sorts of different people, but are the people who have the power to change the marketing claims deliberately blowing off the truth?
      - throwaway32 15y ago
        marketing tends towards an exercise in who can lie the most and get away with it.

ptorrone 15y ago

it's worse than that... chipKIT isn't even the first "32-bit-microcontroller-based, open-source development platform" - maple is. http://leaflabs.com/devices/maple/ http://leaflabs.com/devices/maple/ when chipKIT met with us before launch (adafruit, limor fried and myself) we said this wasn't the first one along with a lot of other things we wanted to see them address and change, they didn't.

pingswept 15y ago
(Hi pt!) I think you left out "Arduino-compatible." But I agree with the sentiment-- that's definitely poor form exhibited by Microchip.
- ptorrone 15y ago
  that's right! they also said with that "Arduino-compatible" and on the box it said "100% arduino compatible" - it wasn't. and they called it "Uno" which is the same name as the latest arduino :(
  - pingswept 15y ago
    Back in the 90's, I was something of a PIC fanboy because their documentation was so damn good, and the PIC16F84 was great to learn on. Are they just jerks now, or is there some more charitable explanation? Obviously, the company is filled with all sorts of different people, but are the people who have the power to change the marketing claims deliberately blowing off the truth?
    - throwaway32 15y ago
      marketing tends towards an exercise in who can lie the most and get away with it.