Lpc2000

--- In lpc2000@yahoogroups.com, medwar19@h... wrote:
> 
> I used the Philips sample service for the first time last month.
> Ordered samples online on Saturday, they arrived by courier on Monday.
> I'm in the UK and a student!

I must be getting blind in my old age (it's hand placing all those SMD
components) but I can't see the sample ordering service. Selecting
"samples" in the support area just directs me to a list of their
distributors. Any chance you can point me in the right direction?

Earlier this year I tried to obtain some LPC2138 samples through 2 UK
Distributors, first WBC(Avnet) and subsequently Eurodis. WBC got a
sales engineer to contact me, who repeatedly tried to arrange a
meeting to "see how they could help me" (clue to him: I'm a 1 man
business, I don't have time to sit down and listen to a guy sell me
stuff I can't afford). No samples were forthcoming. Eurodis got me to
submit the usual project requirements and potential usage, and were
never heard of again. My extremely polite e-mails weren't replied to. 

When the project got revived a couple of months ago, I decided to give
Atmel a go instead. A day later I got an email from their UK
distributor ( DT Electronics ) saying they would be handling it. A 
week later they said there would be a short delay. A fortnight after
that a UPS man in a van rolled up and presented me with large Jiffy
bag with a couple of AT91SAM7S256s and some other goodies in. Total
time, about a month, no customs or other charges. 

Maybe it's the abuse of the free sample system that is causing
suppliers to cut back, but to small businesses like mine they are an
absolute lifeline, making the difference between having a prototype I
can use to pitch for funding, and having nothing in my hands but
paper. The actual components may only cost a few $ or £ but often the
minimum purchase, plus the minimum postage, and then the import
hassles turn a £3 component into a £50 obstacle (I'm thinking Digikey
here).

I'm glad Philips are still willing to supply students, my M.Sc.
project wouldn't have been possible without a benevolent semiconductor
co. donating a crucial item. These relatively small investments by
manufacturers make real differences to Engineers. 

Mike.