Digikey doth truly rule

Tim Shoppa · 2005-02-21T14:29:07+00:00

For the past several years I've irregularly posted my experiencesordering over the web from several catalog houses/surplus supplierswith online ordering.My hope in doing this was not just to give pointers to othersmall-timers like myself as to which ones are the best sites, but togive feedback to the companies to get them to improve their interfaces.But since my first online order (1997 or so) one outfit has risen wayabove the others: Digikey. Digikey's website leaves all the others inthe dust. Their search engine and selection forms for picking outcomponents is simply superb, and is getting better all the time. If Iwant to know what X5R dielectric capacitors are available in 0402 formfactor, the answer is just a couple of clicks and a few seconds away.This is simply amazing.Semiconductor search is not quite so slick, but I cannot blame Digikeyfor not trying. They do a good job, especially seeing as how 7different vendors describe their similar parts with slightly differentwording. For product lines where categorization and selection menusmight be able to work well, they've coerced everything into selectionmenus that are simply superb. And datasheets and sometimes photos arealways just a mouse click away for the real comparison.Don't get me wrong: Newark, Mouser, Allied, Jameco, and a few othersthat I order over the web from have pretty good web-order-entrysystems. They've all improved since they first began taking orders overthe web. Many of them now have near-real-time stock and shippingstatus. They let me do my hobby shopping at home at night withouthaving to call during the day. But they have pretty much zero searchand selection ability.Digikey, keep doing it right!Tim.

Feb 21, 2005 40 Replies

Rate this thread:

Fred Abse 21 years ago

Happy days...

Then there's duct tape ... (Garrison Keillor)

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required

Digikey doth truly rule

Related discussions

Which is the better state for rechargable Batteries!!

Photodiode bootstrap phase rolloff

Rectangular LEDS

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?