On Aug 15, 2005, at 6:09 AM, Byron A Jeff wrote:

> I really don't believe [chip cost] matters too much on the hobby 
> front. Projects are generally done in singles. Convenience is more 
> important than costs.

I disagree.  Chip cost IS important to the hobbyist, and I think
(for example) that the dsPics are currently too expensive for such
projects.  It has to do with how much someone is willing to spend
on a single component that they might break, I think.  On the other
hand, the cost issues are *different* for a hobbyist than for
a company contemplating volume production - the important number
is the low-quantity price rather than the high-quantity price, and
there is probably a "bottom" below which reduced prices are less
important.  I'm pretty sure that the difference between a $2 chip
and a $1 chip is of little consequence, but the difference between
a $10 chip and a $5 chip is pretty significant.

Or maybe it's just me.  Or maybe things are different for "adult"
hobbyists vs student/young/unemployed hobbyists, but I'm pretty
sure you can't just say "you're only making one, so it doesn't
matter how much the chip costs..."

BillW

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