On 27 April 2015 at 20:52, Jacopo Monegato wrote= : > but what's the problem with maxim parts? > just curious (had planned to try their 12/16 bit dacs and led drivers -fo= r > unrelated designs-) > Some really spiffing stuff. BUT Many parts without a second source. Leading to Too many parts without a first source. Atmel and Microchip provide a case study in the microcontroller area. Atmel retires processors rather rapidly [tm] and introduce bigger better brighter devices with more hair on their chest. And, (Fowler mumbles but allows I can start a sentence like that AFAIR), while they provide suggested work arounds for incompatabilities, that is of no great comfort if you just want to burn old code into new parts. Whereas, I've never had the need to try them out, but it is generally reported that if Microchip ever sold it 'way back then', you can buy it from them now. There may be exceptions (maybe not) but if you MUST have a 20 year old part you can buy it. Service like that takes some going past. Russell --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .