It is true often enough. Everything discussed on this thread I concur=20 with and have experienced. The MAX1480BCPI fully-isolated 1-chip RS485=20 interface is great. And relatively expensive, and for 6 months totally=20 unobtainable, as well as the related MAX1480ACPI. I redesigned the=20 board to have a fully-iso rs485 of mostly my design that had no=20 single-source parts, put that design within the footprint of the DIP-28=20 the MAX1480 comes in, and just before finalizing the proto they came=20 back into stock. All this effort doing design and trying to source=20 world-wide (I bought 50 at very high prices just to be able to make some=20 of the product for waiting customers) - all this effort and worry and=20 hassle due to Maxim. They just have to run their show better. Everyone=20 else can do it (Atmel is a problem also but nothing like maxim.) So Maxim's been the worst supplier / biggest PITA for my business thus=20 far, 5 years and counting. Oh, and they have some great parts. But seriously, I will /never/ use a=20 maxim part again, I don't care how much more the TI/linear/ADI=20 alternatives are in cost or boardspace. J V G wrote: > On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 10:12 PM, Bob Blick wrote: > >> Sampling and small orders, no problem. Try to buy a reel of their part= s >> sometime. You'll suddenly find a 26 week wait. >> > > Is this true ALL the time? Sometimes? Most of the time? > > Or is the inconsistency itself the problem? > > >> Basically they are great for hobbyists and maybe for really big >> customers, 50k pieces or more. Anybody else can go fly a kite. >> >> Bob >> > > > What about Linear Technology? Are they any good? --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .