An EPROM or PROM is not firmware - it holds software just as a hard drive holds software. A PROM is always hardware and is never software and is never firmware - the software written in the PROM (or any other read-only memory) is the firmware. Just as a hard drive is always hardware but it does HOLD software. PROM's HOLD software - Hard drives HOLD software.
Then why don't we call the programs on the hard drive "firmware"? Because they're not firmware.
Because the software on a PROM is read-only and the software on the hard drive is not - please refer to the eight technical definitions I posted earlier. The term Firmware is to point out the software can not easily be changed - not that is some magical thing between hardware and software. Firm refers to inability to change it easily.
"Firmware is a combination of software and hardware. ROMs, PROMs and EPROMs that have data or programs recorded on them are firmware."
Now you are turning to dishonesty - tisk, tisk. You left off the first line of the definition on purpose I see. Here is the complete definition:
Software (programs or data) that has been written onto read-only memory (ROM). Firmware is a combination of software and hardware. ROMs, PROMs and EPROMs that have data or programs recorded on them are firmware.
Funny, the first line is the definition I have been using all along - could that be the reason you left it off? hmmm.
The definition is a bit misleading to newbies. The PROM's are hardware but PROM's by themselves do nothing and are not firmware. The only value of firmware is the software. The hardware part of firmware is what it is stored on. All software is stored on hardware so this does not make firmware unique.
A Linux router/firewall running off my hard drive is called software. Now take that and burn it to an EPROM (like in a Linksys router), and it's now called firmware. Its nature didn't change, but its location necessitates a change of terminology.
Close. It is the fact it is read-only that makes it firmware. firm = unable to change easily.
Firmware is software stored in read-only memory.
It is not "something in-between software and hardware" - that was my point through this entire debate - thanks for presenting supporting evidence for my point.
A ROM, PROM, EPROM or EEPROM is firmware when there's software on it. Without any software they are just hunks of hardware (although you'll never see an empty ROM unless you are the manufacturer).
Because the software on a PROM is read-only and the software on the hard drive is not .. Firm refers to inability to change it easily.
The software on an EEPROM isn't read-only and it's easily changed.
The definition is a bit misleading to newbies. The PROM's are hardware but PROM's by themselves do nothing and are not firmware.
What's what I wrote above, and you said it's wrong.
Close. It is the fact it is read-only that makes it firmware. firm = unable to change easily.
Flashing my Linksys firmware is as easy as writing to my hard drive. It's not the "easy" that counts.