[sdiy] Xilinx 3E board comments

[Paul Schreiber]

> Also, the Base System Builder (BSB) file seems to be lacking a lot as well 
> (this is a file needed to use the EDK system wizard).
>
> In general, there is a lot about the Xilinx stuff that leaves a lot to be 
> desired.  The documentation for the software drivers for the EDK ranges 
> between poor and piss poor.
>
> However, it does have a very high cool factor.

I think that this board is SO COOL that I'm going to add sections to my website 
as I 'get going' with it. What amazes me is that companies *assume* you have 
used all of their *previous tools/boards* so the documentation of more along the 
lines of "here is where the ports/pins are". Xilinx is not unique in this. All 
the bits and pieces ARE there, but not in a nice, tidy package. Maybe Jim & I 
can write a 3E Board for Dummies book.

This is NOT a reason not to buy it, though. The analogy is: you get a modular 
synth with minimal documentation. There are no patch diagrams. This board is a 
*digital modular* in the sense that all the necessary pieces are there, the 
documentation tells you how everything is connected up. It's then up to you to 
'do something with it'. This board can EASILY be a Synergy, a K250, a K5000, a 
DX-1, a Lexicon PCM-90, you name it. It does have a VERY STEEP learning curve, 
like programming a DX-7. However, it's not *impossible* (there are 1000s of 
Xilinx users using the tools every day), you just have to sit down and take it 
slow. This $150 can keep you busy literally 3 years :) Me, I'm gonna stick 16 
32-bit phase accumulators in there with a MicroBlaze uP.

Paul S.