Lots of stuff on MIPI

>  I can't help thinking that the above design is much simpler (from a
> hardware viewpoint) than the discrete CMOS design. I can understand the
> desire to support people without pic programmers, but I think a lot of us do
> have the capacity.

What gets me is that MICROCHIP does not have the part and protocol
used in their serial programming chip in the PICSTART programmer
series available as a loose part.  It is a QTP or mask version
and would cost the same as a standard PIC.

Anyone who is doing pic development has to buy at least some Mchip
components and if he were to buy one more programming chip
that was able to programm everything with just a MAX (or equivalent)
and a few (<5) well placed transistors for the higher voltages he
could then program anything.  It is almost as if the little people
are not really not encouraged to get started without a comitting
investment.

This chip could then become the industry standard for programmers and
Mchip would have more chip programmers in the field than any other
chip supplier.

Cheers
--
Kalle Pihlajasaari     kalle@data.co.za        ( soon kalle@ip.co.za )
Interface Products     Box 15775, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
+27 (11) 402-7750      Fax: +27 (11) 402-7751  ( soon 402-7723 )