I recently had a bad support experience with Maxim/Dallas -- called 4 times =

for support for the DS2450 over a couple-week period, and always got the =

voicemail of someone who is apparently the only support rep for this.  Afte=
r =

4 vmails I never received a response, so last week I raised hell around the=
ir =

company.  Even though they found me a field rep in NC who could answer the =

Q's, and a manager assured me it would not happen again, still decided afte=
r =

that it was last straw in the chain of other Dallas/Maxim negatives -- high =

cost and constantly short supply (enough to discourage many CEM's), and hav=
e =

finally made the decision to ditch them altogether.

I have determined at this point that I can reproduce equivalent =

functionalities of the DS2450, DS18B20, and others using a PIC.  It will ta=
ke =

me some weekends of development/coding, but I feel it will be best in the =

long run and should eventually recover the costs.  I do like the 1-wire =

concept, but now need to figure out if changing the specifics of the protoc=
ol =

and associated timing will still violate their IP.

Cheers,
-Neil.



On Sunday 06 August 2006 19:55, Anon wrote:
>   I don't know why Maxim makes it so difficult for small companies to
> design with their components. I am developing a new consumer electronics
> product. Unfortunately, I planned to use 4 Maxim chips that are hard to
> find in small quantities (1-40). Standard distributors like Arrow, Mouser
> and Digikey don't cary them. These components are excellent matches for my
> design needs. Maxim offers some of their ICs for purchasing on their
> website, but not the ones listed below. Perhaps someone can recommend a
> broker or exchange website where rare Maxim components can be purchased at
> reasonable prices. I would love to find alternatives to these components =
if
> someone can offer some advice. National, Linear and Analog devices simply
> cant match the selection, sophistication and price of switching regulators
> and battery charging ICs. Please feel free to recommend other IC
> manuafacturers that specialize in these types of components.
>
>   DS2745 Low Cost I2C Battery Monitor
>   (chosen for its ability to cumulatively measure voltage & current to
> estimate battery life, + its low cost, $1@1K)
> http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/4994
>
>   MAX1555 Dual-Input, USB/AC Adapter, 1-Cell Li+ Battery Chargers
>   (chosen for its ability to intelligently charge a 1-cell lithium from a
> wall adapter or USB port 5v rail, low cost .85@1K)
> http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/4002
>
>   MAX1522 Simple SOT23 Boost Controllers
>   (chosen for its high frequency operation - small inductor, only a few
> external components, low cost $1.07@1K)
>
>   MAX1724 1.5=B5A IQ, Step-Up DC-DC Converters in Thin SOT23-5
>   (chosen for its ultra low quiescent current, only needs a 10uh inductor,
> has built in FET, very few external components, low cost $1.45 @ 1K)
> http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3024
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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-- =

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