What he said........


>-
>- >
>- > Byron A Jeff wrote:
>- > >
>- > > I'm perusing the datasheet now and I'm definitely in love. How much are
these
>- > > parts going for. I think I need to buy a tube.
>- > >
>- > > Also I still can't find any reference to the part on Digikey's web site
despite
>- > > reports here that Digikey has them. Do I need to call them?
>- > >
>- > > Thanks for any info.
>- >
>- > The pricing on the 16$877 is double that of the
>- > ATMEL AVR 90LS8535, which has more goodies in it.
>-
>- Not helpful Tjaart, but I'll bite.
>-
>- I'm a Linux guy and I only use Linux for my development. Does Atmel or anyone

>- else have a Linux/Unix based assembler,simulator and programmer for the
>- 90LS8535?
>-
>- I can use gpasm for program the 877, I already have a high voltage 16C84

>- pic programm to program it and the software to drive the programmer. gpsim

>- has come along nicely.
>-
>- The software I'm using is already written in PIC assembly.
>-
>- I'm not buying production quantites so even at double the price it's well

>- worth my investment.
>-
>- Actually this is helpful. You said that the Atmel part is $5.90. So at double

>- the price we're talking about $12 or so. That helps. Thanks.
>
>And an addendum. Where can you get Atmel parts. As a hobbiest it's tough
>making relationships with distributors who really only want to talk to you
if
>you're planning on buying a half million pieces. So Generally I stick to
>hobbiest friendly places: Digikey, BGMicro, Jameco, Marshall and DallasSemi's

>small order lines. I'll go out on a limb to Future or Arrow if the part
>warrants it.
>
>Digikey has full integration of Microchip. I haven't seen Atmel there or
>anywhere else I frequent.
>
>I saw somewhere that for almost any product that there's a 10X price spread

>between the low end and high end of the product. IIRC the example was that
one
>could buy a $30 kitchen faucet or a $300 kitchen faucet. The issue between
the
>two are style, material, craftsmanship, etc.
>
>It's the same here. Microchip has worked damn hard to cultivate its PIC line.

>They have been open and hobbiest friendly from the beginning. PIC is a brand

>name and a pretty good one at that.
>
>My grandfather only bought Zenith TV's. They were always more expensive, but

>that's what he trusted. That's how I feel about PICs. So unless there is
>an extremely compelling reason to switch, I probably won't. And even at $15

>a pop, the 16C877 is a godsend.
>
>I've learned from experience that standardizing even at a higher average cost

>saves time and aggravation in the long run. So AMD based PCs are my computing

>hardware platform, Linux is my OS, and PIC's are my microcontroller.
>
>BAJ
>