« fscking sony... | Home | More stuff. »

Time for another rant

30 08 06 - 22:10 Target this time: Linksys

If this server is down, it's because my Linksys AG241 ADSL modem is being annoying.

Remember that whole GPL violation thing? They use Linux in all their stuff, and don't release the entire source code? They still haven't cleaned that mess up.

Also, why does their stuff start out truly awesome at version 1.0, and get worse as the version number gets higher?

WRT54G v1.0 had a mini-PCI slot for the wirless, and 20 LEDs on the front panel! This was awesome, but they soon fixed that. 1.1 had 8 LEDs, and no mini-PCI.

WRT54GS v1.0 had 32MB of RAM and 8MB of flash. That's obviously too good, so they had to fix it. Version 4 had 16MB of RAM and 4MB flash.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Version 5 did away with Linux entirely! The thing now runs VXWorks, and is essentially useless. Great going, Linksys.

Then they "fix" their own problem by rebadging all the V4 WRT54Gs they have as the "WRT54GL", and releasing them at a higher cost again, as they realise they just cut off a significant part of their market. Great going again!

Well, OK, their wireless gear, pre v5 isn't that bad. You can flash third-party firmwares and they actually become very good APs. Shame the default firmware is so bad.

Their ADSL modems are a similar story. The AG041 was apparently great (my friend has one), but the AG241 isn't. Well, I guess they upgraded the AG241 with ADSL2 support... but entirely screwed it over.

Although, I guess there is light at the end of the tunnel. The WRTSL54GS (gotta love the unpronouncable and unreadable product names!) is Linux based, and so is their 802.11n router, the WRT300n.

I am suspecting, however, that the reason they went with Linux on these routers was not because it could offer a better solution than anything else. I think it was actually because it would really cut down the amount of work they would have to do. Download the source code and look through it - it's basically Linux, with a ton of common programs added to it, all held together with a web interface, and some duct tape to cover up the fact that there's really not much that Linksys actually did in terms of software design.