It's like the best of both worlds! APM software with a familiar white GPS puck and nice wasp-waist controller box. Just $98 at HobbyKing.
-Chris
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It's like the best of both worlds! APM software with a familiar white GPS puck and nice wasp-waist controller box. Just $98 at HobbyKing.
-Chris
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
Comments
Let go of your aspberger's for a moment and don't hyperfocus on the percentages from a single statement.
I notice you addressed nothing of the rest of what I said.
So I'll ask again: Are you for or against open source? If you're against it, you're in the wrong project. If you're for it, what is your complaint exactly if the people aren't violating the license?
Al, you are the one trying to make this argument about something other than what it is. You stated "A flight controller shouldn't cost 80% of the total cost of my build."
That statement is unsupportable. There is no inherent truth to what percentage of the cost of the UAV, the flight controller should be. If I buy an $80 clone, and put it in a $20 frame, haven't I just violated your proposition? If I can build the rest of the system for $10, does somebody owe me a $50 flight controller?
Your entire post, including the statement about the "real deal for double" the price, can only be understood as a statement that you feel 3DR's hardware is overpriced. This is what I am arguing against. 3DR's hardware can only be considered overpriced, if one completely discounts the very real costs that have gone into developing the system. If that's your personal stance, that's fine. But I am allowed to voice my counter-opinion.
This is exactly like Game of Thrones. Luckily there are enough people willing to pay what it costs to develop, so that those watching it for free can enjoy it too.
People should be asking themselves, "If this is an APM clone, does it violate the license it is released under?" If the answer is "yes," then look to remedies, legal and otherwise. If it doesn't violate the license, then quit complaining because they're following the rules.
I buy cheap clones because I have something like eight drones. I'm not sticking a $250 set of electronics in each one. I stick high end electronics in one or two and I buy the rest from China. Sorry if you find that so offensive (actually, I'm not). I don't have to justify a damn thing.
Why do they have to "justify" buying cheap clones? Is it open source or not? If it is, then anyone can use the source to make something to sell unless you've stuck a non-commercial license.
It sounds like the real problem is that you're uncomfortable with the nature of open source hardware. You want the kudos that goes with being an open source, maker friendly guy but don't like everything else that comes with open source.
Perhaps you really should go work on a closed source project, Rob.
I never attributed those words to you, so I'm not putting them in your mouth. However, many others have used those words before when making the same argument. (ie: justifying their reason for buying cheap clones).
People will pay for things if they feel the cost is reasonable and for the convenience and support of a project. If the cost is 4X (which it has been before) as a price difference, there has to be a reason to pay that fourfold cost beyond "it feels good."
Part of the reason I use 3DR stuff (and I've bought a full quadcopter from them before) is because it is open source. If they go closed source, then they really are just another drone business and I'll just go where the feature set and cost make the most sense.
As I said, I work in open source for a living and have for most of a decade. Either you believe in it or you don't. It isn't about half measures.
Rob - Al never actually said the words "Rip Off" so it is a little unkind to use them. Unfortunately, as companies like HBO know all-too-well, people are unfortunately very happy to choose the low cost or no-cost option and still watch Game of Thrones. The majority of consumers looking to make their fixed incomes cover as much hardware as possible will choose cheap clones most of the time. I doubt hitting people over the head with guilt makes any difference. You either get your business model right or go out of business. Which I suppose is why HBO is going direct. And presumably why 3DR is upping their game and keeping some tech (I hope) out of open source.
Again, Rob, you're putting words in the mouths of others. It is a dishonest debate trick or do you think I or anyone here said those words in quotes ("rip off")?
I work in open source for a living. The whole point of it is that it is open and people can do what they want. If you don't like it and it sticks in your craw, go work on a closed source project as you'd clearly like.
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