I'll try at my best to address all of the previous concerns / raised questions.
Some people buy a used poppery for 5$ and spend (FOR EXAMPLE) 200$ on some hardware (variac to control the heat element, thermocouple, digital thermocouple reader, switches, etc). When you switch to a new roaster, will you still use the variac, thermocouple reader, switches, etc). For example, if you switch to a gas roaster you definitely don't need the variac anymore.
Use our product with a low cost roaster and when you change your roaster, all you need is the "roaster interface" made for the roaster you just bought. The cost of the interface depends mainly on the required components. PERHAPS you'll be able to return your old interface and get a new one at discount price (time will tell).
Will it be free? As stated earlier would someone spending 100$ on a roaster spend (for example) 200$ on a controller? In terms of hardware we're already over 100$ and there are still a few "items" to add on top of the current "shopping list". What if you prefer to use quality Omega thermocouple? Price of each thermocouple is 40$. As of today there are still a few unknown variables to define a final cost and honestly Larry and I didn't discuss yet how the product will sale and be presented.
See your purchase like an investment in a product you can use for years to come -- but this is pure speculation until the product is really there.
Will we ever publish the source code, perhaps. Will we make money, some ... a lot, I doubt it but I wish! Would we accept green coffee donation, *I* certainly would anytime ;-)
All of the above might never happen or it might -- only time will tell. For sure, it WILL happen for the Hottop and until then sit down, relax and watch the show. We already selected 3 beta testers and before including more people, we first want have a "rock solid" product. To me rock solid means something stable that works as we all expect it to work.
Stay tune.
PB
