Just to clarify: that's all I meant and here it is from the next generation (9200), on the level of facts (I just can't see this one meant as a joke, too... [btw, I saw the arguments on the subject and it seems it was not a universally held view on the matter - that it was indeed a joke):
"And then, last but certainly not the least: the capacitors.
Most capacitors used in the ET9x00 are of the brand Samyoung. In some reviews of the ET9000 it was mentioned that a lot of 85 degree capacitors were used. It was said that the use of these caps could reduce the lifetime of the STB. Whether this is really the case is difficult to say for a product that was launched about a year ago, but it's good to see that nXtrend, the manufacturer, has opted for only 105 degree capacitors in the ET9200.
In the ET9000 we could find the 85 degree capacitors on the mainboard near the hard drive and power supply, at the back in the area of the RCA outputs, and in the area of the tuners. These have all been replaced by 105 degree caps in the ET9200.
Caps on the ET9200..."
Btw, I think, if we put aside the security protection, HW or SW (Marusys are doing it), with all that it entails, slowing down the box and whatnot, ET (Xtrend etc.) are arguably the best built and drivers are the most solid, it seems. My learned colleagues all assure me they have benefited from getting the best Marusys coder(s), too...
But if one is clearly asking for Open Source SW and HW that is not loaded with security issues, then neither of these boxes are to be taken into consideration, as we all see...
So, if one is not a coder and one wants Open Source principles in the game - who do we support, which HW do we buy, who is to be rewarded and made stronger?
On the other hand, the question was put before us, a little earlier: "how would we deal with those issues, if we invested a lot in a project of this sort"?
So far I have not seen a credible answer, given in good faith, regarding protecting one's investment, while not killing the functionality of the box.
One thing I can say is that one should go after the manufacturers and distributors of clones, WITHOUT penalising the users/buyers!!!
So, back to the topic, indeed...
<span style='font-family: comic sans ms,cursive'>"Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another. This immaturity is self-incurred if its cause is not lack of understanding, but lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another. The motto of enlightenment is therefore: Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own understanding!</span><br /> <br /><span style='font-family: comic sans ms,cursive'>Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why such a large proportion of men, even when nature has long emancipated them from alien guidance..." I. Kant, "Political writings" (1784)</span><br /> <br /><span style='font-family: comic sans ms,cursive'><a class='bbc_url' href='<a class='bbc_url' href='
http://eserver.org/p...lightenment.txt'>
http://eserver.org/p...ent.txt</a>'><a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.english.upenn.edu/~mgamer/Etexts/kant.html</a>'>http://www.english.upenn.edu/~mgamer/Etexts/kant.html</a></a> - the jolly text on Enlightenment, at the basis of Modernity...</span>