> i understand that it does cost something to operate these clearing
> houses, but $1500 for an id # seems excessive in terms of the effort

Agreed. It makes it unlikely that I will develop (unassisted) a USB device.

Now, some of the USB chips come with predefined ids which makes it
possible for us to do this.

> inexpensively some similar items from similar providers are.  it does
> seem that to some extent the large enterprises are setting up these
> industry groups and running them in such a way as to discourage
> competition from smaller entities, which i feel is unfortunate for the
> consumer and encourages laziness on the part of established
> manufacturers.  perhaps i'm wrong, but that is the perception.

Much as I hate to say it, $1,500 is very little to even a small
comercial enterprise that is properly funded. If I thought I had
a good marketable idea, even I could pay it (if I had the numbers
to convince my wife...).
--
D. Jay Newman           ! DCX - it takes off and lands base first,
jay@sprucegrove.com     !       as God and Robert Heinlein intended.
http://enerd.ws/robots/ !

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