Disklavier

On 12/3/05, James Fry <groups@...> wrote:
> The MarkIV control unit is a fully fledged computer running Linux, hence
> the suggestion of open-sourcing the software. I don't seeing Yamaha doing
> that, certainly not under the GPL (or similar), because it would open the
> gateway to competitors getting a free ride on user interface and media
> playback capabilities. It would also allow me, a Mark II XG owner, to
> build a small PC with the Yamaha software running to give me all of the
> Mark IV facilities for very little outlay. Yamaha don't give the DSR1 away
> free to MarkI owners.

Not so.  The Mark IV actually employs much more accurate sensors for
recording than prior models, as well as many other hardware
improvements.  From what others who have the Mark IV have said, the
lion's share of the improvements are in the hardware and not in the
software driving the Mark IV, which in fact many people aren't fully
satisfied with, at least based on some of the comments in this forum. 
I don't think that open sourcing the software would do anything for
competitors--their problem is that they can't reproduce the patented
high-precision hardware mechanisms that make the Mark IV capable of so
accurately reproducing live performances.  Yamaha would be the winner
if they open sourced it, because they would get enhancements and bug
fixes more quickly, which would translate into happier customers and
increased sales.

Carl