I agree. The litigation issues look very scary and Microchip have deep
pockets. But the thing that makes me the most suspicious is the huge
leap forward in performance this thing is supposed to have. I can't
believe Mchip wouldn't sell a 50MHz EEPROM-based processor if they
thought they could make them with acceptable yields. I assume Scenix are
contracting fab resources from some other third party, anyway. If the
design is so nice, why not have Mchip make the darn thing and pay
royalties. Why make it yourself. At the supposed price of a couple of
bucks each, how many do you need to sell to amortise the development and
startup costs. No, this is looking increasingly like a scam, possibly
one that Parallax themselves fell for. Did they *really* design the chip
- if so, why have an unknown company like Scenix sell it - why not sell
it yourself?.

In any case, even if this device had a brand-new instruction set, it
would *still* sell. Who cares if the code has to be written from scratch
- this kind of performance would easily justify this for the kind of
device you'd be building. After all, every DSP has a different
instruction set. A new architecture could still be very similar to the
PIC's i.e use a Harvard architecture, multiple registers etc. but
different instructions. Presto, no risk of litigation. If you're working
in C, would you even care? (and a new C compiler could be produced for
peanuts). I mean, this isn't like a PC, where software compatibility is
essential. You're up for a new emulator etc. anyway, for this chip. It
has unique features etc, so you're *still* writing software specially
for it, anyway.

If the lit. costs were 500K this is small change to purchase a nice
design so why aren't any of the other semiconductor vendors sniffing
around. Let's just go to www.scenix.com, shall we.....

hmm, its been slightly revamped but...
QUOTE
Volume availability of the SX devices will be available through Scenix
and select distributors in late Q4, 1997.
UNQUOTE

nope, no-one's updated any of the information on it. Anyone who still
thinks this isn't some kind of scam, let me know. I have a great option
on the Brooklyn Bridge......

> ----------
> From:         jhobbs[SMTP:jhobbs@QUIKNET.COM]
> Reply To:     pic microcontroller discussion list
> Sent:         Wednesday, January 14, 1998 3:01 PM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Re: Start programming for the Scenix!
>
> >> Features:   Also simulates PIC 16C5x
> >>             Step backwards
> >>             Stimulus files
> >>             Checkpoints
> >>             Watchdog timer
> >>             Mouse controls
> >>             Profiler
> >>             ASCII I/O instructions
> >>             Similar to Parallax's PSIM
> >>             Runs under DOS
> >>             Works with SPASM and MPASM
> >>             Source code included
> >>             Absolutely free
>
>
>
> Is Running under dos really a feature? :)
>
> Besides who wants to design with a chip that may be dead before it
> ever
> ships.  The designers of the chip chip (parallax) is looking at
> $500,000 in
> legal fees, and the contracted manufacture Scenix may end up with
> there own
> set of problems ($$$) from this fiasco before it is all over.  Hell,
> they
> may just be a typical ruthless company and burn whatever is left of
> parallax
> to just save them selves, and why not?
>
> Any how, just now I decided to call scenix about the sx parts, well
> they
> tell me parts are in but I can not buy them from them, that I must go
> through parallax.  I ask two more times just to make sure that we are
> talking about the sx parts and that they are really in. OK time to
> call
> parallax.
>
> I have called parallax, they tell me they have nothing to sell, no
> sxkey and
> no parts.  Hmm  I tell them that scenix is telling people the parts
> are in
> and you are selling them.  Well they go check, and a few minutes later
> they
> tell me they have no parts and they are not sure of when they will get
> them
> other then soon.  I ask, how soon is soon? I get some hemming and
> hawing and
> they say not sure!  OK, I let it drop.
>
> Does this sound familiar?
>
> P.S.  flames on -  but think about this, if you are doing real design
> work
> for any sizeable or smart company, there is no way in hell anyone
> would give
> approval to design in the sx part.
>
> Take care  -Jim
>