On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 1:14 PM, Michael
Rigby-Jones<Michael.Rigby-Jones@oclaro.com> wrote:
> Almost, but not quite. =A0Are you suggesting they should give away a
> compiler that has no restrictions whatsoever?
>

Actually, I would say yes. I have never understood companies who
expect customers to buy, for a few hundred USD, a tool which simply
makes it easier for that same customer to buy more product. It's
almost like charging me to come into the store or charging me to "buy"
ads or a catalog. Microchip is in the business of selling ICs, not
software. Their compiler cannot be used to write code for competitor's
micros, so it is an ideal "loss leader" to get you to buy more micros
from Microchip.

Even when it comes to hobbyists/students, many of them turn into
engineers eventually. It would be very helpful to plant the seed of
familiarity with your ICs, which is much more likely to happen when
you allow them free access to quality software tools to use your ICs.

Sean

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