[PIC:] tag is sacred :-)

Herbert Graf wrote:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> What do you all think?  Can "soft" cpu technology
> completely replace discrete micro's?

        Somehow I don't think so, and the reason is cost: an FPGA will
ALWAYS require more "die area" to perform the functions of dedicated
logic, therefore an FPGA acting as an MCU will always be bigger then
that MCU in dedicated form. More die space = higher cost. In a high
volume product like MCUs this is a VERY important figure.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ever wondered why Widows XP is more popular than MS DOS?
Even for those apps that would be easily satisfied by DOS.

Just plain cost of a piece of silicon doesn't matter.
And even from this point of view FPGA, CPLD are manufactured
with 0.13, 0.11, even 0.09 technology, not with 0.7, 0.5, 0.35
like PICs. Thus die space for FPGA, CPLD is much less.

Mike.

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