kravnus wolf wrote:
> FreeScale "Official" development tools are expensive!
> I don't see one for students....... Are they
> serious in competing with Microchip?

HC development tool is not so expensive, check their website. But their 
buying process can cost 100 times more than the hardware.

They have some tie up with Future here which is extremely painful to 
deal with:

1.  Over here, you have to send in a purchase order before order (no 
visa, or click n buy)
2.  Fax over a copy of your payment check
3.  Then they enter your order if they want to help before cashing your 
check
4.  You post the check
5.  They cash your check
6.  You wait for order to arrive (can be 2-3 week)
7.  If the check is delayed in the mail, your order shall wait and wait.

The best part is if they made a mistake and send you a wrong part:
1.  After you inform them about it
2.  They will try to wear you out
3.  2 months later when you remind them about it, they will try to ask 
if you want to swap
4.  By then, you would probably want to return, they will ask you to 
wait for a few more weeks for approval for your request to return.
5.  And if your return is approved, you will be told that you would need 
to return to their office, and you would only be paid if their warehouse 
verify everything is intact and OK before they can process to refund you.

I did not proceed further than step 5 as it was such a time drag.
Freescale with/and Future, I just can't feel or see any future for 
either of them.

Ling SM
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