MAKE offers up open source hardware primer

Those that have yet to wrap their head around the notion of open source hardware may want to mosey on over to the MAKE blog, which has put together a quick primer that attempts to clear things up for you and set you off on the right foot. Among other things, it sorts out the partially open source hardware like Linksys's WRT54GL router from the truly open source gear like MAKE's own Daisy MP3 player (pictured above), and provides a few suggestions to ensure that your own open source hardware creations remain as such. True to its nature, the primer is also admittedly a work in progress, so you know what to do if you see room for improvement.

[mb @ Apr 24th 2007 4:53AM]

Since when does D-link manufacture WRT54GL router... ww

[JGE @ Apr 24th 2007 8:14AM]

Yeah, that would be, uh, Linksys maybe?

[elykkyle @ Apr 24th 2007 10:29AM]

I could swear that my WRT54GL is made by linksys...

[surfmasterflash @ Apr 24th 2007 11:53AM]

Has anyone mentioned that Linksys makes that router yet?

[Richard @ Apr 24th 2007 12:01PM]

i don't think anyone's mentioned it yet. go ahead and go for it surfmasterflash.

[jstueve @ Apr 24th 2007 2:24PM]

Linksys a division of Cisco Systems Inc.

[Mako @ Apr 25th 2007 8:30AM]

Yeah mine is made by linksys too. Strange they use the same modem numbers. =)

[Egfrow @ Apr 26th 2007 9:42PM]

B.S! Open source software survives because it's just the passing on of information. Intellectual property is impossible to retain. Hardware requires physical labor and mastering of material control. It's a tangable product. Open source hardware is only naively idealogical and not based or realistic concepts. Free production of material is slavery.