On Fri, 2006-05-19 at 23:14 +0800, Xiaofan Chen wrote:
> Microchip has already got the low end market right. They are
> already the No 1 in the 8-bit market in terms of unit shipment.
> So they have to look up. They want to be a 2-billion company
> so they got to be successful in the 16-bit market.
> 
> If Microchip would license the ARM core, then maybe it is
> a different story. I think Microchip will beat Atmel and
> Philips pretty easily in the ARM clone market if they
> want to.

See, that's where I disagree.

There seems to be a strong opinion that going 16bit/32bit means going
with ARM. I've seem this opinion quite alot and just can't quite agree
with it.

My experience with the ARM architecture is that it is more focused on
being a microprocessor instead of a microcontroller. This is an
important distinction that has allowed MCHIP to capture the 8bit market,
since the 8bit market no longer cares much about "processing" tasks and
is more focused on "controlling" tasks.

My prediction is as the 16/32bit markets progress this same shift will
occur. After all, if you need to do heavy processing and the price
difference between a 16bit part and a 32bit part was zero, you'd likely
go to the 32bit part.

Once this vaccum develops (in many ways it's well on it's way to forming
today) it will be Mchip's chance to take over the 16bit controller
market (which might be why there is such a push on Mchip's part into
their 16bit MCU lines).

If Mchip IS interested in getting into the MPU market then I agree,
going with an ARM type architecture is a good idea, simply because
development is so much quicker due to the established knowledge base.
But I don't think Mchip should go there, they do so well in the MCU
arena, and there is a LOT of room for expansion there IMHO.

TTYL

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