Based on my 'misfortune' thread earlier, and the Maxim thread before that, I thought we might actually do a proper survey of manufacturers.
Areas of grading:
- Website. This is how we usually first interact, and so is important.
- Electronic support. Does the website have the answers we need? Is it easy to find?
- Range of parts. Some mfrs have a limited range, and they stick to what they are good at, but do they provide a decent range within their expertise?
- Documentation. Is it good? bad? indifferent? totally crap?
- Ease of getting samples. This is important, of course.
- Actual part availability. Doesn't matter how good the part is, can I buy the damn thing?
Other areas welcomed.
Grading ratios yet TBD.
The list:
Actives
On Semi Freescale Philips (NXP) ST Micro AMD Intel Vishay (in all the areas, they seem to have bought everyone small) National Fairchild MaCom Zetex TI Maxim Atmel
[Others to be added - please do so]
Passives
Coilcraft Vishay Panasonic TDK TTI Cooper Coiltronics Bussman (owns Cooper now) Toko
[Others welcomed]
Note that I am going from memory here, so I have not listed most of the industry. I am hoping you guys will. I will happily collate the results from this thread and send it (if we think that's appropriate) to all the companies.
Cheers
PeteS