14 replies to this topic

[hanzibal]

Does anybody know of a commercial product based on NETMF or maybe even Netduino? I guess not since NETMF tend to require excess computing power in comparison to native platforms. I guess power consumption per useful machine instruction would be scary, not to mention useful instructions per invested dollar vorth of hardware. ...OR?

[Chris Seto]

There are plenty of commercial deice using NETMF. Some Comcast set top boxes, for one. I suspect that Garmin GPS' use it too, but not 100% on it.

[Mario Vernari]

I suspect that Garmin GPS' use it too, but not 100% on it.

I don't know exactly what Garmins uses, but I were Garmin -selling millions of devices- I'd rather use an OS (e.g. Linux).
We are also using Linux for embedded devices: I was considering to use MF, but it is still veeeery weak on several points.
I think neither CE7 is going better for industrial apps: it is much more phone-gadget oriented, as the MF.

[hanzibal]

Cool guys, I had no idea of that. Goes to show the value of rapid application development or what reason would you say there is for this? I find it very interesting to see the way that sw and hw seem to converge into one. The time is probably already upon us where it has become an overall cheaper process to employ an mcu running sw for tasks where solid steel traditionally did the job. Food for thought.

[Chris Walker]

Hi hanzibal, We actually work on quite a few commercial .NET MF-based electronics products (including mass-market ones) over on the commercial/consulting side of the business. Outside of that, I know that quite a few specialized products use .NET MF. Chris

[Michel Trahan]

We actually work on quite a few commercial .NET MF-based electronics products (including mass-market ones) over on the commercial/consulting side of the business. Outside of that, I know that quite a few specialized products use .NET MF.

Chris ... we want names LOL I think Hanzibal wanted to have names ... Am I right ?

[darkSol]

I've been using an automated sprinkler control system (Cyber-Rain) for the past three years and I've been bugging them for a .NET interface so I can talk to it with my home automation software (LightCore Systems)...

Well last week I get an email that their new software is cloud-based, i.e. the whole thing is internet page / ajax / push technology. Well their new piece of hardware looks suspiciously like it could house a NetDuino Plus. I call their tech guys and ask about their new "Cyber-Rain Gateway" product and he says "well it's revolutionary - has a dedicated ARM processor microprocessor, Ethernet, yada yada" and I say "Oh, just like a NetDuino"

Dead silence for about five seconds... then he says "Well yeah it IS a NetDuino. How do you know about NetDuinos?"

Bah! Ha!

I'd love to upgrade but I'd need the protocols for interfacing... it looks really nice - installs on your local network and runs its own IP address - like the many flavors of WebServers posted here...

Just had to share... products are out there folks!

-David

[Chris Seto]

I've been using an automated sprinkler control system (Cyber-Rain) for the past three years and I've been bugging them for a .NET interface so I can talk to it with my home automation software (LightCore Systems)...

Well last week I get an email that their new software is cloud-based, i.e. the whole thing is internet page / ajax / push technology. Well their new piece of hardware looks suspiciously like it could house a NetDuino Plus. I call their tech guys and ask about their new "Cyber-Rain Gateway" product and he says "well it's revolutionary - has a dedicated ARM processor microprocessor, Ethernet, yada yada" and I say "Oh, just like a NetDuino"

Dead silence for about five seconds... then he says "Well yeah it IS a NetDuino. How do you know about NetDuinos?"

Bah! Ha!

I'd love to upgrade but I'd need the protocols for interfacing... it looks really nice - installs on your local network and runs its own IP address - like the many flavors of WebServers posted here...

Just had to share... products are out there folks!

-David

Heh, neato, NETMF dev within like 4 miles of my house

[hanzibal]

...Dead silence for about five seconds... then he says "Well yeah it IS a NetDuino. How do you know about NetDuinos?"

Awsome story darkSol! Yeah, how could you know about Netduino? :-)

[hanzibal]

Hi hanzibal,

We actually work on quite a few commercial .NET MF-based electronics products (including mass-market ones) over on the commercial/consulting side of the business. Outside of that, I know that quite a few specialized products use .NET MF.

Chris

Cool, I have a few ideas (almost too many actually) one of which might just end up in a commercial product, even though that's not currently my main objective in itself. We'll see.

I'm a bit afraid that it might not be as fun anymore when it's not only a joyful nightly activity and I don't want to loose my best friend. I always use to think that passion is a vastly greater force than money greed. You seem to be extremely devoted and it's evident that you haven't "lost that lovin feelin" about it all. What's the trick Chris?

[Mario Vernari]

You seem to be extremely devoted and it's evident that you haven't "lost that lovin feelin" about it all. What's the trick Chris?

Very good question!...Hanzibal strikes again.
I am curious too...

[Chris Walker]

I always use to think that passion is a vastly greater force than money greed. You seem to be extremely devoted and it's evident that you haven't "lost that lovin feelin" about it all. What's the trick Chris?

Well, Netduino to us is not about money. It's about passion and it's about empowering people. To date we've more or less rolled any profits from Netduino back into new board designs, firmware updates, hardware donations, community support, etc. We plan to make some money with kits and accessories...but frankly we're just as happy when we see community members build successful Netduino kit/accessory businesses. [And in case you hadn't noticed, companies are making millions of dollars off of open source hardware kits/accessories. Not all of them are for Netduino--but Netduino users are a significant growing portion.]

I actually also really love the other products we build (software, hardware, and services) at work. But mostly because we're really proud of them, and because we try to create disruptive products that people will enjoy using.

But yeah, building things with the sole intent of making lots of money can suck the joy out of things. Making a living is important, yes, but if you can find the right balance...you can make a good living and love doing it.

Chris

[Terry Massey]

Well, Netduino to us is not about money. It's about passion and it's about empowering people. To date we've more or less rolled any profits from Netduino back into new board designs, software, hardware donations, community support, etc. We plan to make some money with kits and accessories...but frankly we're just as happy when we see community members build successful Netduino kit/accessory businesses. [And in case you hadn't noticed, companies are making millions of dollars off of open source hardware kits/accessories. Not all of them are for Netduino--but Netduino users are a significant growing portion.]

I actually also really love the other products we build (software, hardware, and services) at work. But mostly because we're really proud of them, and because we try to create disruptive products that people will enjoy using.

But yeah, building things with the sole intent of making lots of money can suck the joy out of things. Making a living is important, yes, but if you can find the right balance...you can make a good living and love doing it.

Chris

To back up what Chris is saying.... I love working on hardware and software... As a person with passion, that I feel is probably the biggest key to being successful in business. I am not of course saying to ignore the business side of things. However Passion and love of a job well done, doing something that you love doing is very powerful. an enthusiastic and optimistic outlook even when things aren't selling also helps. And even then looking back there are sales I have made out of desperate attempts at trying a new method in sales. for instance this just happened recently. I have this huge belief that my netduino Mini Breakout will not only help my sales but the sales of the netduino mini. I also know that if there were others like myself without a serial port on their laptops this board would be the greatest asset designed specifically to work on the mini. So one night a week or so ago with sales not doing so well. I sent out a ton of emails to companies around the globe telling them I wanted to send them a free board if I could just get a contact to send it to. Also be aware these were form letters, but I personalized each email based on the company I was sending it to making slight modifications based on the research I did on their business. With in hours of my email blast I had emails back asking for quotes not free boards. while maybe my prayers before I sent them helped, That I don't know. but even in my most desperate attempts to keep doing what I love. I found new ways of keeping that passion alive. See that is the Key passion. If you love doing this and have a overwhelming passion for it I say go for it. because that passion will carry your thought the rough times. I never stop dreaming up ideas. Sometimes its just a little idea I hear about someone doing some crazy little thing on the forums or in the chat. I may not have the kind of sales yet that Walker does. but I understand his passion. I understand that passion for what a company is and does is what makes it successful... If your interested in some reading there is a great book called Good To Great by Jim Collins. in this book he researched and interviews some very influential companies and CEO's. He discusses what it is about them their characteristics and what makes them so successful. and when they change from following their own rules they fail. In fact one or two companies since he published have, and they did change from what made them great. There is an entire chapter devoted to passion for what you do.

I hear that same concern often from many people that I love doing this I'm afraid if I make it my job I will begin to hate it. I think it all comes down to how much you love doing it. the thing about this industry is it is a little slower moving than I am use to. and I started to get impatient with it. See in software: we develop, we test (Repeat We Develop if not right) , we deploy. Pure and simple. That is not true exactly in hardware. In hardware we design, we Prototype, we redesign, we re prototype, we deploy if correct. however the time line for a prototype is much longer. We have to wait for boards to be produced and assembled usually at least for me out of country. and we cant simply upload a file to a webserver. now we have to worry about shipping and all of that. but to me the joy comes from the design and manufacturing process. and seeing and hearing people talk about what i have created. and how they are going to use that board or design in their next project. so I ignore the things I don't like. thats true with any job though there are things we always hate. like in software status meeting with a management person who doesn't understand the software development process. every job has the things we hate. but if the passion for the work is there that is the key. ok I am now rambling and I kinda butted in on this conversation but I feel very strongly about this subject. Because passion makes everything wonderful...

[hanzibal]

Darn you Terry, you almost got me weeping like a sissy over here. Honestly, very touching and I see a future best seller entitled "Terry, the early days"

[hanzibal]

Well, Netduino to us is not about money. It's about passion and it's about empowering people. To date we've more or less rolled any profits from Netduino back into new board designs, firmware updates, hardware donations, community support, etc. We plan to make some money with kits and accessories...but frankly we're just as happy when we see community members build successful Netduino kit/accessory businesses. [And in case you hadn't noticed, companies are making millions of dollars off of open source hardware kits/accessories. Not all of them are for Netduino--but Netduino users are a significant growing portion.]

I actually also really love the other products we build (software, hardware, and services) at work. But mostly because we're really proud of them, and because we try to create disruptive products that people will enjoy using.

But yeah, building things with the sole intent of making lots of money can suck the joy out of things. Making a living is important, yes, but if you can find the right balance...you can make a good living and love doing it.

Chris

Sounds great Chris, you're a lucky guy. Must admit, I kind of guessed the answer - it shines through