Texas Instruments

Maxim are pretty good.
Some of them make you jump through hoops to provide potential usage figures etc, I think this is just to stop them getting swamped by hobbyists trying to blag stuff...but hey didn't we all start as hobbyists?
Must admit I still have a soft spot for Texas, I remember making audio amps with TIP31A TIP32A... not to mention the Texan audio amp...ah nostalgia's not what it used to be.
Del

Hi CO,

My best experience has been with Analog Devices. However, since the downturn, they are offering very few of their chips as samples. Intersil was also very good - I believe you could order 4 different devices and 3 of each. I've gotten samples from Maxim, Linear Technology, National Semi and of course TI as well. The last time I ordered samples from National, there was a "processing fee".

The difficulty you have been experiencing is, I believe, economy-related.

Mike

I chose TI's 6713B DSP over an Analog Devices DSP for my product in part because TI's products are generally of good quality, good design and are well supported, but the key factor in my decision to go with TI was price - particularly where their development tools were concerned. Analog Devices' DSP software development tools were, on average, twice as expensive as were TI's for roughly the same capability. I like both companies' products and have never been disappointed with either. I tend to prefer TI's tech people over AD's, though. Their people impress me as being more Engineers' engineers. A bit prosaic, perhaps, but straight shooters. I like that. I am pleased with Texas Instruments and would recommend them to anyone.

I can understand the growing reluctance of semiconductor makers to supply free samples to strangers. Go to Ebay, where you will be offered many ICs that were obtained as free samples, by parasites with no idea of civil behavior and every idea of fraud.

For all those who play fair and use samples in development of commercial products that will generate substantial orders, the parasites will ruin a fine system.

I send my appreciation to all the semiconductor companies who continue to support application developments through the free sampling system.

Mark Bingham

Relativity PL

I have seen some sellers on Ebay who I suspect of being parasites. Which is why from what I have learned last few days, is the reluctance of manufacturers to provide free samples for evaluation to free email account holders and require a verbose input from user requesting samples. Some also prevent distro to holders without a .com address.

Interesting past few days. I would think free samples is a good marketing ploy more effective than advertising.

TI and Maxim are really good. I have mixed experiences with Avago. When you ask for a free sample you have to specify what you plan to design with it and they decide whether it's plausible or not and depending their decision you will get the sample or not. But sometimes you don't have an actual design plan but the component seems to be interesting and you would like to learn more about them. And this is the point where I have to talk about hobbyists. I have to agree with Del, we all are hobbyists on certain ways. When you try to keep yourself up to date you have to build circuits not only for commercial purposes but for your own pleasure. That does not result immediate business benefit for the manufacturer, maybe it seems to be a loss, but i think that does result benefits in the future because if you face with a problem first you will try to use the known solutions.

Free or rapid samples delivery has been the final decision factor in my design a dozen of times in the last 20 years. When you face a choice between two equivalent devices, the first one that is tryed in the circuit usually wins the race.

I often pay for samples and it is OK but I WANT FAST DELIVERY!

When the manufacturers place parts in their databook, they are better make sure they have a few on shelf for evaluation. I get turn off when the lead time for evaluation samples or prototype order is 12-16 weeks. I usually try the faster guy and adopt his component even at higher price.

The other thing that I like is when a manufacturer highlight his PREFERED component out of the selection. This help me choose the ones that are popular and easy to procure.