On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 11:37 AM, Richard Guy Briggs <rgb [ at ] tricolour [ dot ] net> wrote: > On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 11:00:08AM -0500, Robert P. J. Day wrote: >> On Tue, 13 Dec 2011, Allan Fields wrote: >> >> > I agree with Robert. >> > >> > I might add: I think the point is that you should not _have to_ wip >> > out a soldering iron, in this day and age. Aside from the classical >> > appeal of soldering and prototyping your own.. >> > >> > You should be able to find someone in the community to do at least >> > part of the hardware engineering for you, or any type of specific >> > service. There are lots of computer engineers (h/w geeks) waiting >> > to do such, with-out wasting the time of those who frankly might >> > want to remain doing software / system-level work rather than >> > futzing with a soldering iron and magnifier. Robert might be able >> > to go the west-end and find someone in less than a day. >> > >> > This is the era of modular design: Plug-able modules in a computer >> > system management paradigm is the norm now. If it's not the >> > designers goal to tweak hardware; then they can simply hire-out. >> > Everyone in Ottawa seems hell-bent on getting their hardware on. >> > That's not the way to run a multi-sectoral high-tech empire. >> > >> > I should be able to find a dude to prototype an interface between >> > two modules, in short-order, as there are plenty who have already >> > toiled and learned the hard way themselves, now they are pre-forked >> > for duty and quite able. >> > >> > Why make yet another embedded company out of some-one who might have >> > made good time on existing modular board/designs. They'll likely >> > end-up spending more time with the h/w interfacing then, and loose >> > track of the original point, as they end-up in tweaker heaven. >> >> two observations. first, exactly what allan said, and on that note, >> it occurs to me that this is one of the *drawbacks* of community. >> it's terrific that a number of people were happy to advise me on how >> easy it is to learn how to do this myself. all i need, apparently, is >> a really good soldering iron, time, a bunch of practise boards and so >> on. which is fine, but at the moment, i've got a number of clients >> interested in linux training, so taking time off to learn how to >> solder is definitely not cost-effective for me. hence, my looking >> around for someone to do it for me. >> >> and i'm not asking anyone to do it for free (sorry if i gave that >> impression). it's worth it for me to *pay* someone else to do it as i >> have more than enough stuff that will generate billable hours for me >> that i don't want to invest time with a soldering iron. and perhaps, >> that's one of the drawbacks of community -- sometimes, people are so >> eager to teach you how to do something that the fact that i'm willing >> to *pay* someone to do it goes unrecognized. >> >> it may be that this mailing list is not the right place for >> something like that, i don't know. but i have on occasion posted, >> looking for assistance, and offering to pay someone for it. instead, >> numerous people jump in, offering to *explain* to me how to do it. it >> seems that very few people here are willing to see an actual business >> opportunity when i offer it up. >> >> in addition, it may be that this it not a one-off job. even as >> shipped, the pandaboard is more than adequate for teaching embedded >> linux. but with those extra connectors, that opens up a *world* of >> additional possible courses involving video. i've negotiated a bulk >> rate for buying pandaboards from the manufacturer, and i'm looking at >> bundling a board with each student kit, so i could be buying *dozens* >> of these things and might want each one extended as i described. >> >> i don't want to do it myself. and if there's someone out there who >> is good at this sort of thing (makes a living at it?), then we should >> talk. this is a business opportunity for someone who's looking for >> one. > > Then post to linux-consult and be more explicit about wanting to pay > someone for it. > > I'd say you were barking up the wrong tree, or not being adequately > explicit in what you seek. > Really? Barking up the wrong tree? OP asked if 'anyone local do really fine soldering' and you replied with your expertise and linked a video. I'm sure once OP found the person who could do the work they would have negotiated for it. -- Paul Belanger | dCAP Polybeacon | Consultant Jabber: paul [ dot ] belanger [ at ] polybeacon [ dot ] com | IRC: pabelanger (Freenode) | Blog: http://blog.polybeacon.com | Twitter: http://twitter.com/pabelanger