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What magical thing is in Raspberry Pi that cloning it would be an advantage over other Linux SBCs/SOMs or EVKs like Beagle? Oh wait I know the answer - the pri

What magical thing is in Raspberry Pi that cloning it would be an advantage over other Linux SBCs/SOMs or EVKs like Beagle? Oh wait I know the answer - the price. You want it cheaper. But it's already subsidized by Broadcom so how do you think a cloner would make any money off of it? Or are you trying to use it in a product and you need a second source? Because that way leads to doom as well.

andrewstuart 5y ago
The software.
- joezydeco 5y ago
  Okay, let's continue that line of thought. So there must be some special software/firmware that only runs on RPi and a cloner could take advantage of that work when selling their board. What software would that be?
  - evv555 5y ago
    Linux distributions with large enough ecosystems to smooth out the rough edges.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
vimy 5y ago
Why does Broadcom subsidize Raspberry Pi?
- schappim 5y ago
  It provides Broadcom with value by making Linux distros stable on their chips.
schappim 5y ago
There is no one answer for this. Looking at job ads, the industrial uptake of Raspberry Pi has been amazing. Some key things that Raspberry Pi Trading has done to be competitive include: - long product lifetimes - good documentation - listening to their customers (and adapting their products to meet their needs) It isn't really "just price", as evidenced by the price of the compute modules (mainly used by industry).
- jjeaff 5y ago
  But the point being made is that the only reason to clone it would be price. Because a true clone would benefit from all those things you listed, same as an original rpi.
  - andrewstuart 5y ago
    No, the reason to clone it is software.
    - joezydeco 5y ago
      So maybe resubmit your question and take the hardware out of the equation. "Why does RPi have such a robust ARM Linux ecosystem and why isn't that portable to other modules?"
      - andrewstuart 5y ago
        No - that's not my question.

andrewstuart 5y ago

The software.

joezydeco 5y ago
Okay, let's continue that line of thought. So there must be some special software/firmware that only runs on RPi and a cloner could take advantage of that work when selling their board. What software would that be?
- evv555 5y ago
  Linux distributions with large enough ecosystems to smooth out the rough edges.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]

vimy 5y ago

Why does Broadcom subsidize Raspberry Pi?

schappim 5y ago
It provides Broadcom with value by making Linux distros stable on their chips.

schappim 5y ago

There is no one answer for this. Looking at job ads, the industrial uptake of Raspberry Pi has been amazing. Some key things that Raspberry Pi Trading has done to be competitive include: - long product lifetimes - good documentation - listening to their customers (and adapting their products to meet their needs) It isn't really "just price", as evidenced by the price of the compute modules (mainly used by industry).

jjeaff 5y ago
But the point being made is that the only reason to clone it would be price. Because a true clone would benefit from all those things you listed, same as an original rpi.
- andrewstuart 5y ago
  No, the reason to clone it is software.
  - joezydeco 5y ago
    So maybe resubmit your question and take the hardware out of the equation. "Why does RPi have such a robust ARM Linux ecosystem and why isn't that portable to other modules?"
    - andrewstuart 5y ago
      No - that's not my question.