On Thu, 2005-05-12 at 11:49 -0300, Gerhard Fiedler wrote:
> Herbert Graf wrote:
> 
> >> I suppose I didn't expect much help from them, but their attitude has
> >> been go away & don't bother us.  Quite a shame, really, because they
> >> make a great product.  However, I could never recommend them to anyone
> >> after this.
> > 
> > Well then you won't be recommending ANY company that sells electronics
> > these days, because pretty much every single one of them will behave in
> > the exact same way.
> 
> Maybe not... I've had no problems getting a complete service manual for my
> ViewSonic P815 monitor. (Cost me a bundle at the time, but then this is not
> a $80 scanner.) 

That's exactly the point. A monitor, especially an expensive monitor,
does still have an expectation of being "repairable", hence the fact
that a service manual is available.

But you ARE talking about an $80 scanner.

> You could argue that there is a lot more IP in those
> schematics than there is in the schematics of a $80 scanner, as there is a
> lot more non-trivial electronics.

Remember, it doesn't MATTER how much "IP" there is in the schematics,
it's the fact that there MIGHT be something "good" in those schematics
that a competitor might be able to use that scares companies.

> My impression is that there are differences between companies. Of course
> it's still the question how high these rank on your priority list when you
> buy an equipment (given that you know about them then).

Of course there are differences between companies, my point is the
majority of companies making lower cost computer peripherals probably
won't even answer your email requesting a schematic. TTYL
 

-----------------------------
Herbert's PIC Stuff:
http://repatch.dyndns.org:8383/pic_stuff/

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