Re: [rp-ml] Kickstarter RP "Kit" Project

From: Jose Joaquin Prieto <arquiblindajes_at_telecorp.net.co>
Date: Sun Dec 18 2011 - 07:41:13 EET

To day I look this new manufacturer http://buildatron.com/

Jose Joaquin Prieto Cruz

Arquitecto
Móvil 3168520800
Bogotá - Colombia

Enviado desde mi iPad.

El 17/12/2011, a las 4:10 p.m., "G. Sachs" <sachsg@sbcglobal.net> escribió:

> I told you having IP was pretty important (if you want to actually get paid for your work)! As you can tell, I'm not real big on the "open-source" and "crowd-source" model (craze?) for developing new technologies, both because the original innovators usually don't get compensated (fairly) for all their hard work and because of what you said about "quality" (i.e. not being so important anymore - don't think Steve Jobs would have approved either). On the other hand, I guess no one forces people to contribute to open-source projects and they can be especially good for helping to do some really inventive and "insanely great" things and for producing innovations geared at the developing world and poorer countries, that simply can't afford expensive new, or proprietary, technologies. Just heard of a new diagnostic "chip" (actually just an engineered piece of paper), that can analyze dozens of liver enzymes, in just a couple of minutes that will cost less than $1 (replacing much lengthier and tedious tests that cost 100s of dollars)! Now THAT"s progress! This could have HUGE ramifications in Africa and many other poor countries (particularly in connection with safer AIDS treatment).
>
> Having said this, I do think Kickstarter and some of the other alternatives to traditional "venture capital" are pretty neat, particularly since it has become even harder to get the traditional sources of venture capital (VCs, governments and private investors) to take any kind of risks anymore (everyone wants a guaranteed return). I also think it's a great way to fund the arts, since they usually CAN'T get anything from regular investors (don't offer any financial rewards). And, I think VCs now devote less than 1% of their funds to actual start-ups (and those not coming out of universities probably get even less than this). everyone wants to know make money, fast, without having to take any long term risks - that's no way to fund innovation that could take 5-10 years of effort!
>
> Regards,
> G. Sachs
>
> From: Markus Hitter <mah@jump-ing.de>
> To: Jonathan <chertok22@gmail.com>
> Cc: Rp-ml <rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi>
> Sent: Fri, December 16, 2011 7:46:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [rp-ml] Kickstarter RP "Kit" Project
>
>
> Am 16.12.2011 um 19:04 schrieb Jonathan:
>
> > anyone seen this Kickstarter project?
>
> Yes. It's unbelievable what kind of money flows just for a promise. I talked to a few purchasers and the essence is:
>
> - In their view it's perfectly normal to pay $750 for a set of unassembled parts worth $300. Plase note, Printrbot claims the numbers it's self and the parts lists will be open source as soon as the first printer ships.
>
> - Apparently, many people send money just because a lot of others did already. Some sort of rush.
>
> - They're glad somebody finally makes a kit. The other about two dozen RepRap kit providers are apparently not seen at all, much less they consider buying from (mechanics-/electronics-/extruder-)specialists.
>
> - The RepRap market is reeeaally big. Like tens of thousands of machines.
>
>
> Conclusion:
>
> - Proven quality doesn't matter, promising hassle-freeness is worth ten times more.
>
> - Offering options, like specific feature sets, is more than questionable.
>
> - With open source hardware, developers collect the work, kit vendors collect the money.
>
>
> Markus Hitter
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Dipl. Ing. (FH) Markus Hitter
> http://www.jump-ing.de/
>
>
>
>
>
>
Received on Sun Dec 18 07:42:58 2011

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Sat Jan 07 2012 - 13:25:43 EET