On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 09:02:04 -0400, you wrote:

>I have a really stupid question to ask, but it's been bothering me for a=
 while so I'll just ago ahead and ask it:
>
>Why is the PIC uC so popular?
>
>When I look at the specs of the competition, I see nothing but seemingly=
 better products. Now I don't want everyone to get mad.. please. I'm =
simply a lowly computer science student who is still very new to this =
little hobby.. and I've only ever used PICs, so I really can't compare =
fairly. But the things I see are: AVRs and SXs are much faster w/MIPS, =
offer things such as lots of SRAM, etc.=20
>
>Are PICs cheaper? Is it because there are just so damn many to chose =
from? Is it because they are simpler to understand, so many engineers =
learned on them and still hold them dear? Is it because they have such a =
huge base of code/developers already and the momentum keeps them going? I=
 guess the main thing I see is that these other uC's have such an awesome=
 MIPS advantage... so why not use them? Are they more expensive?
>
>I don't know why I'm asking this because the answer is probably a =
combination of all of the above. But I keep wondering if there is one =
huge advantage that I'm not seeing. Anyway, just a thought.

=46or mid-high volume applications, cost is by far the most important =
parameter, and PICs really score
there, especially for those apps that don't have the volume to justify =
mask-rom devices.=20
The vast majority of low-end embedded apps simply do not need speed, tons=
 of RAM or fancy features,
so having them wastes money.
Microchip do a huge range of parts, giving designers the flexibility to =
choose the part that will
just do the job, with no excess unused capability (i.e. cost).

Probably the second most important parameter is availability & leadtime -=
 Microchip have a track
record of consistently been way ahead of all the competition on this.=20

Once you get out of college and into industry, you'll see that datasheet =
specs are only a small part
of choosing what part to design in. Commercial issues like the above =
usually come first.
=20

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