[sdiy] Re: Cyclone SID

[asfi at eol.ca]

Rainer Buchty replies to someone or another: 

>> Now as far as development boards that are low cost...Xilinx 
>> development boards seem to be less expensive.  I suspect that Xilinx 
>> subsidizes them.  The best deal is the Spartan III starter board, 
>> available for $100 from Xilinx...comes with a 200K gate part.
> 
> If you're working for university, become a member of the Xilinx 
> University Project (XUP) and ask nicely, they might even donate you the 
> $99 Digilent Board (XC3S200).

Well, freebies aside..... 

Even more amazing is the Xilinx "High Volume Starter Kit Bundle" which
includes one of the Digilent XC3S200 boards PLUS a Digilent CPLD board
(with two CPLDs installed) as well as a JTAG cable plus all of the usual
software (Web Pack edition on CD-ROM) and documentation....all for US$99. 

For a while it was out of stock and I feared it was a time-limited
promotional deal, but Xilinx is selling them again. I just ordered
one, heh. 

The "let's not lose any time on this" deal-clincher was discovering
that Xilinx ships internationally by DHL, which unlike UPS doesn't
plan its business model on extortionate customs clearance fees.
(Earlier this week I received a $200 digital camera shipped from
Arizona, shipped by DHL, and not a dime in fees, disbursements,
taxes, duties, or what-have-you!!) 

So for under CDN$150 (including shipping) I will soon have some very
interesting 'toys' to play with. I've already got an ex-surplus
analog I/O board (with nice Cirrus converter chips) so all I'll need
is a boatload of spare time. 

Hmmmm, better order some 72-hour days from Digi-Key.... 

 - Colin Hinz
 Toronto, Canada