> I've noticed that a fair number of the "hobbyist" suppliers haven't > jumped on the "F84" is obsolete bandwagon - presumably they > still have stock they ordered a long time ago, and/or for all those > existing projects that use it Of the two hobbyist retailers here both have the F84 at $14.50 and one has recently added the F628A at $12.95. Which is about Arrow trade + $10. I've checked date codes and they're new stock. (one has a wafer card including F84 + 24LC16 for $12.95 which I'd be half- tempted to buy and play around with but maybe I could just pull some old card apart. One day.....) So, the price of one 628A retail could get you 5 trade. If I needed only one then it would not a be dilemma. I'd reluctantly buy just one, like I do with components I use infrequently. But it helps obviously to know that I will use a tube quantity sooner rather later, so a tube lot of 25 for $90 makes economic sense, and it would be quickly re-couped $90 may still be rather a lot for a hobbyist though. That expense could be justified by making an effort to actually pursue the hobby, do a lot of experimentation (ie get good at it), make useful personal circuits and perhaps even develop products for sale. Part of the tube could be sold of course or even, going back to the PICs in schools thread, get a few friends/classmates together and all chip in a few $$$ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu