Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Why does it matter? I don't know about you, but I'd want to know if someone's giving me instructions which would result in me breaking the law! Sure - giving the instructions is fine, but carrying them out may not be  . |
It all (or should) depends upon intent. If by carrying out the modification of an EB-100 to run like a Cybook you intend to sell the EB-100 as a 'clone' of a Cybook, as an example, then you're definitely breaking the law. If, on the other hand, you're just experimenting in order to see what you can accomplish, then you should be okay.
Me, I like to see just what a device can do, what features are embedded within the firmware. Remember how Canon digital Rebel XT owners were modifying their XTs to gain access to firmware features found in the 20Ds? (Or was it the 30Ds? I can never remember.) Clearly Canon would have preferred they bought the more expensive cameras, but it was Canon's fault that they made it possible to modify the firmware - not the users' fault. A similar situation is occurring here. It appears that not only the EB-100, but also the Explay and other ebook readers with the same number and layout of controls may well be able to run Cybook firmware. That is both disturbing and welcome news.
Disturbing because it appears the only real change to the hardware (except for the recent addition of the 512MB RAM) was the change from a non-vizplex display, and the redesign of some buttons, there's no other significant difference.
But welcome because this means these older devices should be just as able to run an open-source OS and ebook app as the Cybook - without having to find someone versed enough in the peculiarities of the specific 'orphan device' to do major modification. If I understand correctly, the GSoC project for the Netronix family of devices is being developed for the Cybook Gen3. Now, with this testing, it is becoming increasingly clear that no major mods will be needed to make use of the results on an Explay, STAReBOOK, Orsio or EB-100.
Derek