I'm here in the US (AZ) and I've found Digikey to be indispensible. Here's why:

OBVIOUS REASONS:

1. Has a high price but offsets it by almost ALWAYS being in stock. If
you'll notice, this is ALWAYS the case with any commodity sale.

2. Has an excellent shipping department. These guys REALLY know how to get
the stuff out on time.

NOT SO OBVIOUS REASONS:

1. Bigger distributors have built their parts substitute sheet on Digikey's
part  number system. Just tell 'em it has to be the same as Digikey#
xxx-xxxx-ND, and they'll be able to match it.

2. Digikey's prices are consistent. A design engineer can assume that the
REAL price for a component is exactly 1/2 of what digikey charges for
onesies. This makes estimating costs MUCH easier than the ol' days.

3. Their stock choices are relevant. They stock stuff that IS BEING USED,
not pie-in-the- sky junk. If you are looking for a 3.3V regulator, you have
a choice of going to Digikey.com or going to LT or National's website. But
Digikey eliminates second-guessing about the actual price and availability.

Just my $.02... which won't buy anything anymore....

--Bob
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