An EE Times straw poll of embedded device makers in Europe found that while last year 50% said they planned to use Linux, that number had dropped to 33%. 26% said they planned to use a commercial OS, up from 15% a year ago.
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Member since:2006-01-14
Fine, I'll tell you why you are wrong. First lets start with Nvidia just to get it out of the way. Nvidia CAN'T open up its drivers as it licenses some of the tech from other companies. Just like Sun licensed some Java libraries from other companies. But that is besides the point.
First, most embedded devices are probably using one of several standard CPU's which already have Linux support. Most companies are NOT producing their own chips, so there isn't any trade secrets there for them to give away.
I think the main reason why this is happening, if it is a problem at all, is due to money. There are a few OS's which will run in less memory than linux. That means less memory on the board and less cost. However, in at least the one instance I know of, the substitute OS was not as robust as linux. It may also be the case that these other chips support other OS's better than linux. That may change as Intel ramps up their new low power chip line. Again, the survey didn't really get specific so who knows what the reasons are unless we ask.
Member since:2007-03-07
nvidia has specifically stated that their drivers contain hints about their own intellectual property, and that's part of the reason why they won't open them. So at least some of the reason is protection of their own intellectual property.
When it comes to embedded systems, several companies I know of have custom chips built for them, and make kernel tweaks to support those custom chips better. Open sourcing those changes would give away a competitive advantage they have based on some of the chip designs they have had done. And that's why they aren't going to use Linux.
There is also another issue, which is that they want someone they can reliably count on for support. As of right now, there are no Linux vendors specializing in embedded Linux. No commercial vendors anyway. If that changes, their might be more interest from hardware vendors in embedded Linux.
Edited 2008-10-08 01:13 UTC
Member since:2005-07-06
That was a sarcasm, in case you had a doubt..
Member since:2005-11-02
Member since:
2007-03-07
Why did my comment score get lowered from 2 to 0? Cause people don't like to hear the truth?
The GPL really does scare embedded device makers away. Because oftentimes embedded devices have industry trade secrets in the hardware. The fact that they would have to GPL any mods they made to the kernel to improve performance on that hardware, or support certain new features of that hardware, scares them away. It's the same type of scenario that prevents nvidia from open sourcing their drivers. Cause that would give away trade secrets about their hardware.
Embedded system vendors really are scared away by the GPL. Many of them simply don't want to be at the mercy of a license that would force them to open source any changes they made to the kernel.
The GPL really is hurting Linux in the embedded systems market. Which is sad, because Linux would make a great OS for embedded systems.
If you think I am wrong, then tell me why I am wrong. Don't just lower my comment score cause you don't agree with me. Tell me why you don't agree with my analysis.