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Discussion Groups | Piclist | MicroChip Sample Program

A discussion group for the PICMicro microcontroller. Also called the Microchip PIC, this list is dedicated to the use and abuse of this fine, simple, microcontroller. Close to topic posts are welcome, ie. general electronics.

MicroChip Sample Program - jrem123 - May 4 11:48:00 2003

Hey to all . . . so I finally fried my first PIC. I accidentially
put 15vdc on it, it didn't like that too well (note to self: remove
chip from breadboard and test new voltage regulator circuit prior to
powering up, duh). Well, I guess that's okay seeing that I must have
reprogramed that chip 100+ times, each time going from a breadboard
to an Olimex programmer (and it's been missing one pin for a while
now). That chip probably deserves to get framed being the one I cut
my teeth on . . . So I made another order at Digikey for a few different units this
time (along with a bunch of other necessities to stock the junk
box). But then I realized that MicroChip has a sample program, and
after reading through the terms, it looks like I could get a hand
full of different chips for free to experiment with.

So where does one draw the line? I have been buying from Digikey,
but it looks like there are better deals on Ebay, or maybe MicroChip
will just give them to me for non-production goofing around? What's
the protocol for using the MicroChip sample program?

Thanks . . . John.




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Re: MicroChip Sample Program - cdb - May 4 19:27:00 2003

John,

Without meaning to be rude, you draw the line when your conscience
makes you feel uneasy.

Personally, I have a great debate with myself on this topic, on the
one hand I know that the manufacturers are aware that in many cases
they are being taken advantage off, but against the genuine requests
they are going to make greater sales, so it might be annoying but not
a major problem.

On the other hand I don't like the attitude well its free so it's
mine and I'm entitled to it (insurance companies must love me
<grin>). I believe asking for samples is justified, if one is a
student studying electronics/hardware/software engineering, and if
you have a reasonable expectation that what you are going to be
building may result in some sales for the manufacturer in some way.

As an example (and I still feel slightly uneasy), is that I have had
some of my projects published in Electronics Magazines, so if I am
thinking of submitting a project, then I sometimes see if I can get
free samples in order to try out new or unusual parts. after all if
the article gets published and people want to build it then most will
need to buy parts. If it is only ever going to be a part for a hobby
item then I pay, unless the part is very difficult to get hold of in
retail quantities.

Having sounded more pompous and righteous than I am, I have to say I
have just received some samples from Microchip, which arrived from
Thailand within 3 days of my request.

One place that retails Pics very cheaply is www.crownhill.co.uk ,
where I purchase most of mine from. In the US Pioneer are extremely
cheap, though I can never work out if a)They sell to non companies,
and, b)If they sell outside the US.

Colin

On Sun, 04 May 2003 16:48:57 -0000, jrem123 wrote:
o where does one draw the line? I have been buying from Digikey,
but it looks like there are better deals on Ebay, or maybe MicroChip
will just give them to me for non-production goofing around? What's
the protocol for using the MicroChip sample program?

Thanks . . . John. --
cdb, on 05.May.2003

I have always been a few Dendrites short of an Axon and believe me it
shows.

Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright
until they speak!





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Re: MicroChip Sample Program - John Remington - May 4 20:34:00 2003


--- cdb <> wrote:
> John,
>
> Without meaning to be rude, you draw the line when
> your conscience
> makes you feel uneasy. let's assume that a) I have no conscience, b) I'm not
operating a full-blown production operation . . .
then my guess is that MicroChip would be more than
happy to give these things away on small scale because
it solidifies the user into their product line (think
about it, if it works for me, why will I go screw
around with Atmel, Intel, etal?), and in the overall
economy-of-scale (since we're on the econ topic an
it's my undergrad) three chips and a $10 fed-ex is
very, very cheap marketing. We spend multiples of
that on every lead and our order ration is 1:10
(orders to quotes). It's expensive to do business,
period.

So my non-conscience could have chips sent here, next
door, to my sisters, etc, and total up , what . . .
20 or so chips at a cost to MicroChip of $100? And
what happens if I actually create a product which I
can sell in the thousands of units ???

Final caveat . . . I have stated that I have
purchased the chip (singular, with several more on
order) from DigiKey. Jeesh, I'm not that hard up
that I need to skim $4 for a fricken' chip. Plus I
can expense it, file a schedule C, and wait for those
1099's (I don't dread them here, I could use a few
more!!!) to roll in . . .

__________________________________





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RE: MicroChip Sample Program - Bert Drake - May 4 21:48:00 2003

My take on it, is that the samples are a marketing move on their part, just like giving MPLAB.
 
If I'm building something that will generate sales for them (usually by being a prototype for a mass production) then the samples are justified.  Also getting samples of new or different chips to play around with so that I can evaluate them for use in a product or future product seems justified.  It is really no different than the soda companies giving away free sodas in the hopes you'll like it and buy more.  Except that you are giving Microchip the investment of your time to learn their chips, which is exactly what they want.
 
That said, I usually buy my chips for personal use from www.glitchbuster.com which offers the best prices and cheap shipping in the US.
 
Bert
 


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Re: MicroChip Sample Program - Ian Bell - May 5 2:10:00 2003

On Monday 05 May 2003 3:48 am, Bert Drake wrote:
> My take on it, is that the samples are a marketing move on their part, just
> like giving MPLAB.

I suspect that when you ask for samples there will a number of questions to
answer before they will send them (Nat Semi on this on their web site).
Provided you answer these honestly then I see no problem, moral or
commercial.

Ian



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Re: MicroChip Sample Program - jrem123 - May 5 11:13:00 2003

hmm, those prices do look good . . . too bad I placed that DigiKey
order already. Next time round . . .

--- In , "Bert Drake" <Bert@D...> wrote:
> My take on it, is that the samples are a marketing move on their
part, just
> like giving MPLAB.
>
> If I'm building something that will generate sales for them
(usually by
> being a prototype for a mass production) then the samples are
justified.
> Also getting samples of new or different chips to play around with
so that I
> can evaluate them for use in a product or future product seems
justified.
> It is really no different than the soda companies giving away free
sodas in
> the hopes you'll like it and buy more. Except that you are giving
Microchip
> the investment of your time to learn their chips, which is exactly
what they
> want.
>
> That said, I usually buy my chips for personal use from
www.glitchbuster.com
> which offers the best prices and cheap shipping in the US.
>
> Bert



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