Doesn't someone make a motherboard with a socketed, replaceable BIOS ? I would think that it ought to be a standard tool for developers. A prerequisite for an open machine.
Are there hiding places in the chipset too ? How closed are the chipsets ?
Bob
On 9/25/07, Robert Vogel vogel@ct.metrocast.net wrote:
Doesn't someone make a motherboard with a socketed, replaceable BIOS ?
not really. it's far more common nowadays to pre-flash the chips before they are soldered down. To reflash, you use the vendor program. If it goes badly, the machine is a brick.
A prerequisite for an open machine.
There are no open machines any more. Well, there are a few. But, increasingly, the machines we use in the x86 world are closed. People don't even realize it in most cases. It's getting worse, and unless people start paying attention, we are going to end up in a world of closed platforms again. (that's part of the talk I am preparing for the next linuxbios get-together)
Are there hiding places in the chipset too ? How closed are the chipsets ?
Depends on the vendor.
ron
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Robert Vogel -
ron minnich