Front panel controller

From: vrs <vrs_at_msn.com>
Date: Wed May 12 21:35:48 2004

> > I believe that this is a problem with virtually *any* component you
could
> > choose. The newer stuff seems to generally have shorter lifespans. I
> > believe this is an outcome of having more choices -- none of the "newer"
> > chips (with perhaps some exceptions from Intel) has enough of a
following to
> > be readily available down the road.
>
> As you said, the newer chips are worse. I've come across chips that have
> gone out of production in the time between the announcement and the
> distributors getting stocks of them. Hmmm....
>
> Personally, the only 8-bit CPU I think can be depended on to stay around
> is the Intel 8031 family. It's used everywhere, and many manufacturers
> either make it, or make 'improved' versions. You can ignroe the
> 'improvements' if you like.

I fear you are correct :-). That's not good news for the "Intel-yuck!"
crowd.

> I thought the 6809 was getting somewhat hard to find now :-(. The Z80 and
> 6502 were a lot more popular and are still listed in catalogues over here
> (the 6809 doesn't seem to be.)

The 6809 can still be had from Mouser, and a few other places with much
better prices.

In this case, I think the 680x was originally chosen for the ease of
programming. I concede that the 8031 and the Z80 are both more available
(and likely to remain so). I don't see 6502 at, say, Digikey. They do seem
to be as available as the 6809, though.

> As for SRAM and EPROMs. I am sure both will be around in 10 years time,
> even if at a vastly increased capacity. And just as now we put 2764s in
> place of 2716s with a few minor mods, I guess in the future we'll make up
> daughterbaords to put the latest SMD EPROMs into 28 pin DIL sockets.

Maybe we should all design them into everything we do, in an effort to
sustain demand for them at a level where they are considered worth providing
:-).

(BTW, for anyone who thinks that might actually work: there is a real world
out there, waiting to be discovered.)

    Vince
Received on Wed May 12 2004 - 21:35:48 BST