New Coldfire-based Networkable Embedded Laser Controller!

[fpgalover]

Hello community,

As this is my first post in this forum I like to introduce myself. I’m a hobby laserist from Germany and working for a hardware development company (no laser stuff) in Bavaria. The reason why I’m reading this thread is a post in the German Laserfreak forum.

As far as I know, most people have seen the board only from a digital picture and not in reality. Therefore, the first impression might be that the guy has cloned the QM2000. However, laser controller hardware always looks similar: FPGA/uC, power, DACs, OpAmps, connectors and so on. For example it’s also possible to find similarities between the RIYA 3 in 1 (http://www.riyalasers.com/) and the new NetLase board from JMLaser (http://www.jmlaser.com/), which are both FPGA and Ethernet based. But that’s only the outward appearance! The lion’s share of the knowledge is the FPGA configware, the firmware, the PC drivers, etc. From my point of view it is inadequate to compare the hardware only. It’s necessary to examine the whole system before putting someone down as a copycat.


Regards,
Andy

[allthatwhichis]

Greetings Andy and welcome PL!
I think we are beating a dead horse here but you make a good point, although, between the evidence that has been shown in this thread and the thread from Pangolin chat, it does look like there was some sort of copying somewhere. Be it the web site "similarities" as first mentioned and then possible some of the parts of the controller. I think the main red flag was the previous business relationship shown in the Pangolin Chat thread. I took from it that Rodney worked with Bill on the Pangolin SDK somehow and some way. Also the card Rodney worked on before this one that... didn't "fly" looks even closer to the QM2000 than this "later" model that he "designed". I am merely a spectator in this one but Pangolin has produced a lot more evidence in his favor than Rodney did. Not that being a longer standing member here doesn't make some of us biased in his favor. I think a good examination was done, and after my suggestion for a review didn't get any feedback or even notice from Rodney, a more thorough review hasn't been made available. It'd be nice to have both systems side by side to compare. THAT would remove all doubt, whether it be in Rodney or Bill's favor is still a question at this point, but with that option not on the table, we are all open to our own interpretation of the facts provided...


And... I don't think we have had a similar discussion like this before. Please don't take it as the norm. We are all just a bunch a geeks that have a physical addiction to coherent light... We are really very harmless.

[dream beamz]

[msith]

Greetings all,

Its interesting, I have sat back and watched how the entire thread has transpired and degraded into humiliating, bullying, accusations and simply and clearly a show of complete jealousy on part of Mr Bill Benner.

Buffo,(Adam) or who ever you are - you are somehow either connected with Bill (some sort of business partners or co-collaborators) or somewhat Bill has something over you, or you have something over him.. or there is some sort of financial reasoning behind your siding with Bill.. The way you have posted (initially asking some questions)… and then when Bill Benner decides to make an appearance, you and Bill decide to then attack this guy - you are just as bad as Mr Benner!
In fact, I would say Mr Benner, you have met your match in the industry - you are running shit scared that someone has been able to come up with a controller (which when I look at it from the original pre-release which interestingly has been removed, looks NOTHING like your QM2000).. now unless I am mistaken, I clearly see the rest of the people on this forum have NOT even had the guts to make up there own mind - they have been brainwashed by Pangolin... oh is that Bill Benner (By the way Mr Benner, did you work for Microsoft ? as your business practices are modelled exactly...mmmm as you say).
Immediately when Bill decided to post, he immediately attempted to take focus away from the new device and proceeded to ‘socially engineer’ the rest of the forum into thinking it’s a copy, oh its looks the same as the Pangolin card.. by using the trivial issue over the translation feature…
As for the rest of you who have followed like sheep with Bill, you are should be disgusted with how you are treating others.. you think you are hobbyists… yet I don’t think Pangolin’s products are Hobbyists products – they are actually *VERY* expensive, lack innovation in today environment and quite frankly is legacy by today’s standards… the LD2000 and QM2000 system are not something that the hobbyists can afford – in Fact, Pangolin’s products are a rip-off – pricing has remained fairly consistent (high) for a long time – Electronics and computer hardware loose value very quickly.
Mr Benner also rips-clients off in the ‘Free-Updates’… Well have a look at the so-called free-updates… If you wanted to get hold of the DVDs / CDs, you have to pay and then you have to pay for shipping of CD/DVD Media by the most expensive method he could get – Courier… But, I would say that Mr Benner’s arrogance proceeds him, he will not even give the client the option of alternative (and cheaper) shipping methods.. he will justify this through statements of how much value you are getting in the product, and that is the safest and quickest method… Yep – the ENTIRE Laser Industry has been brainwashed by Mr Benner!
Lets tare apart this thread even further…
I can now see what has *REALLY* gone on.
Rodney has posted a pre-release to notify the industry of new hardware.. Even before given the chance, Bill came in (and thought; Oh Shit… what am I going to do.. need to stop this, I don’t want anyone else in my territory..) so what did Bill do ?? he attacked the translation flags.. Well Bill, I think you decided to copy Altavista, but to get around the usage conditions, you decided to do some “reverse engineering” yourself because the Altavista version did not suit your site décor.. you do not have exclusive use of such a feature.. Yet you bully everyone else and manipulate everyone to keep control on the monopoly!

Well Mr Benner, These flags are provided by Altavista, and in fact there are also condition on the Altavista site;
http://www.altavista.com/help/free/f...archbox_transl

"PLEASE NOTE: You may not modify the graphics, HTML or AltaVista logo in any way, or use the AltaVista logo for any other purpose. AltaVista does not provide compensation to Webmasters who use this free service. You agree to these terms when you click on an "I want this one!" button above. If you need a more customized search solution for your Web site, please consider" I would say Mr Benner, that perhaps how you have 'Modified' 'your' flags you are in breach of conditions with Altavista... perhaps a little email to Altavista.. they may like to know you are bullying others trying to incite they are in breach of your (Pangolin) website.
Bill quite frankly, I think that you put on this act to 'brainwash' others into thinking how 'perfect' you are.. yet you are the guilty of the same thing.. so your tactics are to simply divert attention away from your self!."

Mr Bill Benner, I have made my conclusions… you are no more that an arrogant, manipulative (and cleaver social engineer) and immature figure in this industry.. sure, you have following, you think you are cleaver, but you are nothing more than a complete BULLY.

From this point I have lost respect for Pangolin….
In Fact, if not to late, I certainly hope that others in the industry have innovation, the guts and the motivation of developing new innovative products
We need new players in the market – and I hope someone, one day comes out with a product that shows greater innovations and features than that in the QM2000.
I dislike the monopoly and the business methods of Microsoft… Pangolin is nothing more… Mr Benner simply seems to incite intimidation against others and will trample ANYONE who gets in his way.

As for the rest of the people on this forum, I would take a careful look at what you have done – you have ruined it for the rest of us who see a genuine effort that Rodney has put into developing a controller. I think Rodney has integrity, and has not copied anything..
Oh another thing Mr Benner, That Image that you decided to show the rest of us (in further attempts to discredit and ridicule this guy)… What have WE got not think that you are manipulating our views ? and that you have not come into possession of this photo because it was given to you by Rodney himself ?? You said yourself that you tried to arrange a non-disclosure agreement between you two.. Sure (you say you got it off a Pangolin client… woopty-doo..who is this other *magical third party*) perhaps a fictional client, or perhaps a client who negotiates on behalf of Rodney ?? Or perhaps may be he had a falling out with Rodney, he came to you where you then “benefited” your client in return of confidential information ??
Come on Bill… you don’t think you can pull the blindfold over everyone … I see what you upto….
I think in reality you are *So threatened* by this new player you will go to *ANY* lengths to flush him out… How do we know that you are not trying to fish information from Rodney to come up with a new controller yourself ??
You know where I can see holes in you Bill ? its where you have posted THREE TIMES the question What microprocessor it uses – If you actually READ the pre-release it was ALL THERE.. In Fact, for the rest of you, the information was RIGHT in front of you if you all took the time to carefully read the pre-release – yet you all were so adamant to shut this poor guy down.

But all of you have failed to see that there is something in this device – otherwise the reaction of Mr Bill Benner and Co would not have been with intent of crucifying this guys efforts.
Come on – think about it – lets go and take a computer (an embedded computer at that) and ‘reverse engineer’ it as you so see fit to see that this is what Rodney has done.

My small amount of experience in digital electronics (especially at higher frequencies) is *Very* complex.. all the signals, all of the little procedures that need to be taken to ensure signals are correct, voltages are correct, the ones and zeros are correct.. you simply cannot do this through look at a physical board - yet you all are too stupid to see this!.

I can full well see how much effort Rodney has put into the development of the controller – the site on the UClinux site (http://www.uclinux.org/ports/coldfire/laser/index.htm) for this this is credible and reason beyond a doubt that his inspiration and detail has come from elsewhere… I think Rodney has looked at the QM2000 and seen how shit it is – and how to better implement the architecture. Electronics is NOT some magical science… its based around what the manufactures of the components tell us how to use them! There are rules and standards which in fact relate to correct placement and layout of the components.. This is NOT unique to Pangolin!.. In fact, if you going to accuse the guy of copying an idea - I bet that that dev board on this site is it.. but that is what a dev board is for.

In relation to SDKs.. these are provided free of charge to allow others to develop on the platform - but I bet Bill does not give these out to readily... Bill has simply bated everyone.. and you have all been hooked... line and sinker.

I think that most of you are all gutless – you have followed one persons view (that of Mr Bill Benner) and decided this is the ‘Holy grail’ truth. As you know by now, I think Mr Bill Benner is noting more that a BullShit CON Artist – Typical Legacy American mentality..
Be warned Bill, there are better people out there with much higher standards and integrity that you have to offer – you are a coward and have your head up your arse!
Grow Up.. as in my vote – DOWN WITH PANGOLIN… Enter Fresh innovation you are welcome..
For those who have tried to sort through the crap on this thread – I commend you for taking a stance – try and see past all this and see what Bill Benner is *Really* about.
For those hobbyists, if you *Really* enjoy playing with lasers and scanner, and you want something that is affordable and has great functionality and features – I strongly suggest you think before attacking new people who try coming up with new innovative products..
Really, I have seen what Pangolin has to offer when someone showed be the controller and interface – its nothing great.. the board may be ok, but the user interface of LD2000 is absolutely shit – difficult and cumbersome to use – I rather spend my money on something better, or more lasers or more scanners.. mmm perhaps development of a new controller!

I certainly hope this has incited some thoughts into your heads you defiantly hate what has been said – but this is the very truth and I have the Balls to stand up to bullying cowards like Bill Benner..

For what its worth buffo (Adam) I lay you in similar territory as Bill,.. but, if listening to what one of the guys have said about you… then perhaps you have the capability of change and simply a result of brainwashing by Bill Benner.

I have an Idea - lets all put in Ideas on how come up with and develop a controller to better that of the QM2000 - and provide it free to the community - Ha.. Bill will like that - A Free Laser Controller Card. or how to build one.. I bet the combined ideas and efforts of the community can come up with something even better.. each one can come up with a module - there is no need for laser controllers to be expensive and inaccessible to the hobby market. Its open to all - Software, firmware, circuits, components required, discussions about what better implementation to use and customise features and functionality how ever you want - the whole lot in the free public forum. - Non-Commercial / Commercial Free - The whole community contributes to ideas - this is the true meaning of sharing - getting back to basics everything the hobby person has ever wanted to learn and know. Excellent Idea. Pass around everyone... start a new technical forum.. Pangolin technology is legacy - lets move with the times and come up with better system that everyone can develop and use themselves... and better yet beats the QM2000 in features and functionality... Bill perhaps you would like to start to tell us what your looking for in a laser controller - we all will take a look at the pangolin site and see what we can gleen from it - perhaps you will learn new things - Ah but remember is for everyone to share and you cant commercialise the ideas - must be submitted to the free public forum.. Glad you are interested.

Have a good day everyone - a new day is dawning and freedom of information will prevail.

The only costs in doing laser graphics will be cost of scanners, optics and lasers... the controller and software is freely available on the public domain for all to contribute and improve on.

I as an interest in lasers would love to help out people - I think the de-commercialisation will benefit everyone - improved laser graphics... I think the community can do much more and accomplish more this way that what the ILDA has been able to do in its entire existence... Money is the root of all evil and jealously is a curse - removing both will enable to share freely without reservation.

I very much hate the commercial word and what it has become - its responsible for the state of the world and damage to the environment.

Have a good day everyone - a new day is dawning and freedom of information will prevail.

[buffo]

You know, I *really* wanted to stay out of this. But it's after midnight and I'm sick and bloody tired of being bashed in a public forum. So tonight the gloves come off.

Mstih, you are *totally* clueless. And the sad thing is that the answers are right in front of you if you'd only bothered to spend some time searching before you started posting.

If you had really been lurking here for a long while before joining, you would know that I am in *no* way associated with Pangolin. In fact, if you look back about 18 months, you'll see that I've written some rather vitriolic things about Pangolin myself.

The difference is that I did my *own* research. I met Bill face to face. Not just once, but several times. I invited him to one of our Laser Enthusiast Meetings. I saw what he was doing to help the hobbyist community, and I talked to him about my misgivings about Pangolin. And you know what? I got answers. Good ones. Answers that made me re-think my position. (Does this sound odd to you? It's called discovery, and you need to be doing more of it.)

I agree that sometimes Bill comes off a bit harsh on-line, but in general everyone does. It's a function of the narrow communication channel. (No other cues.) However, before you go flaming away, you need to look at the volume of work he's contributed to the community. (Likewise, before I said anything beyond my initial observations about LaserMame's post, and his controller, I made some phone calls and tried to learn more about him. What I learned directed the posts that followed later in the thread.)

However, since it's clear you're nothing more than a shill for Rodney, that explains why you don't know anything about what's going on here, and why you're unwilling to do any of your own research before you open your mouth. And believe me, I have ZERO patience for someone that can't be bothered to spend 5 minutes doing some research before they attack me personally in a forum.

If you had read even a tenth of my posts, you would realise that your tirade above is so far off the mark it may have well been written by a three year old. In fact, given the socialist bullshit near the end of your post, I'd say it *was* written by a three year old. Or worse, a college student that hasn't spent enough time in the real world to understand how capitalism works. (Here's a hint: Releasing a new laser show controller, free or otherwise, is not going to do a damn thing to help the Environment you idiot!)

I have devoted a tremendous amount of my free time to this forum and to the Laser Enthusiast Meetings. We've held 2 so far, with a third scheduled for this coming weekend. We have two more that are in the planning stages. I've also organized other gatherings, including one to see the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. What have you done besides shill for Rodney and attack Bill and me?

I noticed how you conveniently omitted the FB3 controller and the LA Freak package from the Pangolin lineup when you went off on your "Pangolin is overpriced" tirade. (Hint: the FB3 is cheaper than the bulk of the controllers on the market today.) Yet another sign of your, oops, I mean Rodney's, continued dishonesty.

Also, pricing has been falling for the last several years, on all Pangolin products. (I remember when the LD-2000 into package cost 2 grand. What's the price now? Oh, that's right. $1499. I'd call that a price drop, wouldn't you?) But hey, don't let facts get in the way of your rant. Keep screaming about how Bill is "the man" that is holding you down. The rest of us are laughing our asses off...

No one ever said that the QM-2000 board is an entry-level product; least of all me. Quite the contrary, it's the top of the line, and everyone knows it. However, the FB3 controller *is* a viable entry-level controller that is cost competitive with a lot of other systems out there (including Mamba Black w/ Easylase USB, or LDS with Riya PCI, or even the relatively new Moncha system). This discussion has been talked to death in at least a dozen threads. Evidently you missed every single one of them though.

If you're so hell-bent on building a better laser controller, why haven't you replied to any of the threads here that deal exactly with that subject? (Yeah, we've got people working on it; the difference is that they're not trying to steal someone else's work and pass it off as their own. Maybe you wouldn't fit in...)

The bottom line is that Rodney's design looked a lot like the QM-2000. Given his past association with both Pangolin corporate (via the programming contract that fell apart) and the former Pangolin dealer in Australia, there was more then enough reason to suspect foul play. Very basic questions were asked, and instead of full disclosure, Rodney replied with a load of bullshit. The forum reacted accordingly, and now you're upset. Well, here's another hint: We like to play fair here, and ripping off someone else's design isn't playing fair. Furthermore, if you are accused of being dishonest, you damn well better work at it to clear your name (especially in the face of some pretty damning evidence) rather than just ranting away about how it's all unfair, or Pangolin is too expensive, or "the commercial world sucks".

Finally, you seem to be the only one complaining about PhotonLexicon. The rest of us are having a great time, no matter which controller we're using. (And there are a lot of people here that don't use Pangolin.) In fact, though I do have a QM-2000, I also use other software *and* other controllers, so I understand why people might want to stick with what they have.

None of those "non-Pangolin" folks are whining about Bill when he attends our meetings and tunes scanners for free. None of them are complaining when Bill agrees to repair scanners for free, even if you don't own a Pangolin controller. And none of them are complaining about the information he is providing to some of our members that are trying to write their own software to control their projectors. If you had been here for a while, you'd know that.

But you're just a clueless idiot with an axe to grind, and I've got better things to do with my time than to sit here and point out how wrong you are. Go stew in your own bile; you seem to enjoy it. Scream all you want about "jealosy", "De-commercialization," and whatever else floats your boat. The rest of us will be enjoying our lasers.

Adam

[allthatwhichis]

Welcome back Michael,

I can assure you Adam is not involved in any financial way with Pangolin. The only Pangolin product he has is an old, used QM32 he got of eBay, I think, and had a bitch of a time getting going, Laptop issues I think. So, your first observation is incorrect...

Second, what Bill has over us is the help and support he has provided for us here and at BOTH of the Enthusiast's Meetings we have had.

What I saw in this thread was Rodney trying to do a Pre-Release, which is AWESOME, and I thank him. But when faced with a few questions he got defensive, then bailed. That itself discredits him. If I believe in something, especially something that could change my current living situation like having the "next big laser controller", I'd still be in here giving everything but the patent diagrams out to prove I did not do what has been inferred. I would also be spending all the time it took to prove Bill wrong. That is what you want isn't it? Stick to your guns and show us your true.

As for a monopoly, it is not like there aren't other controller set ups out there. Or that there are only 3 others like MS, OS, UNIX, and LINUX. I even made a thread for just this comparison. (need to update that beast...) We are in a capitalistic society, and while I am with you, it could be a lot better, this is what we got now, and to change it would mean an end to not only the bad things, but a whole lot of the good things and is probably better set aside for another discussion, probably on a different forum. We have not been brainwashed, several here have had MANY controllers and setups. It is kinda like driving a Harley-Davidson... You wonder why you didn't buy one first, before you were caught by the sickness on an inferior bike, got a Harley and realized that sickness was nothing on that piece of crap. I for one am a hobbyist, with no clue how to make a show, but want to make some $ doing shows, locally at first but you never know. I decided to go for the intro kit instead of the hobbyist kit so there are no licensing issues. I did a decent amount of reading and pricing. The intro kit is a great deal if you look at the features and included shows and frames. I have/had/am getting back, LDS. It runs on the QM2000. There is NO comparison between the two softwares running on the same hardware, none. LDS shows look amateur, period, in comparison. There is no brainwash there, no LSD on the Pangolin CD case... At FLEM 1.0 we watched the same show on, I think an Easylase with Mamba Black and then on the QM2000. I was amazed by the difference, and how much cleaner the QM ran the same show. We hadn't opened Adam's home brew yet... No conspiracy. When it came time for me to get a real controller, I was using Popelscan and a homemade DAC at the time, AND had gotten LDS of eBay for $250, I went to Pangolin and got my kit. I could have saved a lot of $ and gotten an easylase, or Riya (this would have been my second), but reading and seeing for myself... nothing else has the Winamp AVI plugin either. I also got a Harley for my first motorcycle a couple of months later. AND, it seems, after doing some after purchase research, they are BOTH a LOT less expensive that you think, and by getting them first, save even more $ not bullshitting with the other bullshit. As for Pangolin being "legacy" technology. Someone is going to have to put the next big thing in front of me or in my hands to prove it can do better than what you are calling "yesterdays" news. That is what caused me to purchase my intro kit, it was demonstrated to me, next to other set ups... and it performed better, with more features, and, if you look at it well, costs as much or less than comparable setups.

Now, I DID mention a review and possible comparison of this new product and the one some find similar... Not a peep of a response. I would have jumped on that, if I had nothing to fear by doing so. There are several user on here that are probably semi local to Rodney. dave and aijii, I'm sure someone can get a hold of DJ Traximus... He's down there isn't he?

Damn, this got long... My only points I wanted to make were, Adam is NOT involved with Pangolin in more than a semisocial way, two meets and a few emails and phone calls... 2nd, Pangolin is NOT a monopoly as there are a half dozen or more other set ups out there, professional and hobbyist although Pangolin did come out with a comparably priced and featured set up (this will help the market won't it?), most who have Pangolin have experienced the rest or don't want to "muck around" with the rest, 3rd, if you look at the price comparison thread, the intro kit is not even close to the most expensive controller set up and is much more comparitive than the OS price comparison for computers and the LA Freak... , and 4th, if Rodney has/had nothing to worry about, he should still be here plugging his product and making sure we know the truth, it is what I would do. I'd be setting up multiple reviews and taste tests/comparisons.

And now we have degraded this thread into a dead horse kicking contest... Anyone else got a good smiley for it?

Michael, I applaud you for your courage, if you are not Rodney as has been inferred, but have you really met Bill. Bully is not the first word that comes to mind... I think "O'Brien" was what we came up with first. I'm sorry, Conan was the first, O'Brien was the second. Salesmen might come in the top three to five, which is the worst I can accuse him of doing in this thread, via a little dirt throwing. He seems to be a hard working guy that made a good product and is still working hard to support his market, or making Hayden work hard.

As a matter of fact, I'd still like to see this product, if all is kosher, and hope you don't run off. Photonlexicon is the only real forum I have found that focuses on this aspect of coherent light addiction, and misery love company. Please don't leave due to this thread. We have many more that are great literary works, or that can offend in other ways, but have great information in them from great... minds...

[msith]

Adam,

You talk about flaming, saying things whatever.. I have nothing to gain nor anything to loose.

The issue is the very arrogance at the start of the thread and the fact that all of you have IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED that the board is a copy - this is where the problem here is - you have not even got a board in to determine this.. you have assumed because Bill has targeted some little god darn flags on the website - who gives a toss about that - the very fact is that you and bill shot him down at the start.

For your information, you are also wrong in your assumptions that I know the guy, or speaking for him... or whatever- I am not connected in anyway with anyone... I simply see a load of hypocritical discussions - yet you don't know anything about the product.

You do not know the story what had truly transpired between Bill and Rodney - it between them two.. One bet I will make is that perhaps Rodney did contact Bill to offer some licence to develop the board, Bill became interested, and wanted to get a binding agreement.. what what was this agreement ? biased towards Bill no doubt. I think Bill knows more that he is letting on to anyone and he is twisting the facts to suit himself.

From the pre-release, I think this board shits all over the Pangolin flashback card - his has many for features.. NOW granted I will give it to you which is the question about price - would it be similar to the FB card ? none of us will know or ever know.

but now, that you mention may be I should fly over and meet the guy.. so then you can say with truth that I know him..

I have done my homework, so don't worry about that - again you are ASSUMING quite alot.. you like that don't you.

[allthatwhichis]

Heh... I had to post again. Dammit Adam, I was defending the Adam with gloves.

[Pangolin]

Thanks for the kudos Adam!

I agree, this has gone on long enough. I have been on this board for probably close to 2 years, and have never "attacked" any other laser controllers. In fact, in the past few months, several new laser controllers have been announced, including the other announcement from IMC, which magically also disappeared. Everyone knows that I just sit back and watch the flow of messages that follow. Who knows, maybe I will learn something about the market that way...

In any event, this evening I have spent some time examining the writings of "msith", and I think I know who it is. In your last posting, suddenly, you seem to know a lot about the non-disclosure agreements between Pangolin and Rodney -- (things that only Pangolin and Rodney and his closest friends would know about) and an awful lot about electronics, SDKs and even Rodney himself... And lastly, your judicious use of the name "Bill Benner" seems strange -- a name that had not been referenced (probably anywhere in all of Photon Lexicon) prior to your first post. Once again, I find myself asking "hmmm".

You better believe that we will be taking a close look at IP addresses, and even if your second login is different (because you drove across town and used an internet cafe computer) we will get to the bottom of this...

Otherwise, if you are indeed a real person, then "show your face". Reveal your complete name, location, and company affiliation. Everyone else here has...


Best regards,

William Benner

[msith]

allthatwhichis,

I commend the fact that you are the only one that has seen reason though all of this..

Your last post has many valid points... now the question with regards to how Rodney should have stuck to his guns and ran with is - again very true... But I also can see it from this angle...

How long would it take to develop such a board ? (ok Bill, you can answer this)?

Now, I do not have any experience with programming all of the sort, but if you have needed to research, develop test, aquire components, board manufactures etc - to me this project could take litterally years before it even became a product to be offered.. now, perhaps he is simply a tinkerer like you and I.. he may not know how to handle the crap that was dished out to him... now, perhaps in truth, both sides of the coin could have handled the situation better, but what I am seeing was a direct ploy to divert attention away - an attack as you will ... now a Question for ANYONE Did perhaps someone take the initiative to write to Rodney and discuss further as requested ? or did you simply jump on the bandwagon and assumed matters ??

What I am trying to get at is that there are people out there who are technically adapt, but speaking about things may not be so easy (not trying to make excuses here, rather, trying to get into the thoughts of both sides of the coin)... Im thinking the card has taken a great deal of time to do - he has a strong connection with the work he has done, now how he was attacked over it - he had not known how to handle it - quite simple wouldn't you say ?

As for questions being answered, perhaps more time should have been given... Bill, if what Adam has just said previously is try, then why the hell did you immediatly have to attack the translation feature ?? Ok.. so he had a translation feature, he was given by another party or he saw from your site and go inspiration that its a good feature to assist others CONCIDERING
that the laser display market is all over the world.. Who knows - but perhaps direct attack in this manner should have not occurred - and then the rest of the questions would have been answered.

But we all know that if you are attacked its either fight or flight response - well he went for the "flight"

Ok, this may not excuse the matter, but I just think that he was shot down too early - and the manner which it was done is disrespectful on many leavels.