The cost to give out samples is probably even lower then it is to send
out datasheets, brochures etc. The cost that chip manufacturer have for
production facilities, research etc is in the price for the chip when we
buy them not in the "give aways". The shipping cost and the handling is
probably the biggest cost they have for it.

/Ake

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Fran: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]For Andrew Kilpatrick
Skickat: den 15 april 2004 22:04
Till: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Amne: Re: [PIC/AVR] PIC vs AVR (ATMEL)


You underestimate the value of samples. I started as a hobbiest, and
learned about the PIC while in school. Now I'm in business and the
PIC is my micro of choice for every application. I'm only 25, so I
stand to design a lot of stuff in the next 50 years or so, and
Microchip will get money every time.

Other companies that make it easy to use their products because the
prices and method of getting products are good:

- National Semi
- TI
- VIA (embedded motherboards)
- Maxim IC

But I guess what matters more are the companies that seem too big for
themselves to make products that are easy to learn about and obtain.
Here is the list of companies that I avoid:

- Motorola
- Cypress
- Philips
- too many others to name

Running a business has strengthened my belief that everyone matters
when it comes to products and services. The guy that buys one,
or the guy that wants 1000. Because the tables can turn pretty fast in
this world, and the guy making circuits and code in his bedroom might
be designing the next great product that will end up selling a million.
The companies that only pay attention to the big people will (and
deservedly so) lose their edge.


Andrew

On Thu, Apr 15, 2004 at 01:43:45PM -0600, Richard Zinn wrote:
> Does Microchip purposefully cater to hobbyists?  I don't understand
that
> sample policy all that well...  They must lose a lot of money to
> manufacturing and shipping so many samples to hobbyists.  When
probably 1 in
> 1000 hobbyists ever build something that is produced in mass
quantity -
> enough to make Microchip any money.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shawn Wilton [mailto:shawn@BLACK9.NET]
> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 12:31 PM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [PIC/AVR] PIC vs AVR (ATMEL)
>
>
> Honestly, they're all vastly different.  They're all RISC, but that's
> about where the comparison stops.  Atmel has the best architecture,
but
> pic has been around long enough that tools/sw and the chips themselves
> are cheap and easy to come by.
>
>
>
> Richard Zinn wrote:
>
> >I've been wondering the same thing.  Except, I'd also ask about the
Zilog
> >chips?  Like the eZ80?  How do the Atmel, Microchip, and Zilog chips
> >compare?
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Mark Jordan [mailto:mark@CPOVO.NET]
> >Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:06 AM
> >To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> >Subject: Re: [PIC/AVR] PIC vs AVR (ATMEL)
> >
> >
> >        Hi Andre,
> >
> >        I did that move some years ago. Never regretted.
> >        I can tell you my reasons, but they couldn't be very
> >significant to you:
> >
> >        1. More speed, almost 1 MIPS/MHz.
> >        2. No memory bank switching.
> >        3. Not only one accumulator but lots of them to work with.
> >        4. Very resourceful assembly language.
> >        5. Multiply instructions (8x8) in TWO clock cycles!
> >
> >        Last week I had to do a rework on an old PIC design.
> >        Boy, I missed the AVR that week!
> >
> >        Mark Jordan
> >
> >On 15 Apr 2004 at 18:38, Andre Thomas wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>Has anyone ever considered moving from PIC to Atmel AVR's ? If so,
what
> >>are good reasons to move ?
> >>
> >>I am thinking that there's a few advantages in the development tools
> >>available, but then I am making an uninformed statement... Anyone
else
> >>willing to shed an enlightended opinion?
> >>
> >>Regards,
> >>Andre Thomas
> >>
> >>--
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> >>
> >>
> >
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