Thanks TI, Freescale

TI is excellent in that respect. Had the same with a client where all but one TI part was in stock at Digikey. The Digikey shipment arrived in two days which was quite good already. The TI samples arrived the day before! That blew everyone away because they were anticipating that we wouldn't be able to test the prototype until that opamp came in.

Are you in Germany? Where about?

I wrote to one of the app engineers with whom I was in regular contact at that time, hoping he'll pass that on to whoever should receive the thanks.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

While "Thanks" certainly seem in order here, let me at least point out that (usually) getting the parts up-front during a design cycle isn't the problem.

The problem comes later, when the manufacture either doesn't schedule enough on-hand for anticipated demand (i.e., 10-14 week lead times!!), or even worse, drops the product from production altogether. I for one believe that if you're going to be in the business of making semiconductors (or any material) - which others will rely upon in their design, you have no business obsoleting it for a least a few years.

In related news, we've all had similar experiences with the switch to RoHS/lead-free, but at least for older parts, its understandable a new lead-free variety might not be profitable, and hence the part is retired.

That said, I have been BURNED by FreeScale (and a few others) enough in the past that I will actually go out of my way to NOT specify their components in our designs. (I realize many parts are second-sourced, etc..). However, on-balance, we have found the experiences less than thrilling....

I would note Maxim & Atmel are also very responsive when it comes to samples & truthful delivery times.

-mpm

If I request TI samples before about 3 PM, they'll be on my desk when I stagger in the next morning. The TI samples are actually shipped by Digikey.

John

Now tell us the one about the Three Bears.

*-*-impossible-to-get-the-parts+jelly.bean.solution+TI+Maxim+designed.out+My.supply.chain+second.sourced+*-*-not-use-Maxim-devices+*-*-dozen-sources+*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-order-a-million-and-accept-16-week-lead-times *-*-*-assurances-in-the-past-that-all-was-changed+zz-zz+Maxim+damage.control+failed-utterly-and-reverted-to-type

I see your point, but my personal experience disagrees with the collective experience here.... I have yet to see a Maxim advertisment or lead-time that wasn't "as advertised". If they say it's an 8-week lead, it usually is. And at least you can get them on the phone.

A related, and perhaps more important point: How many times has Digikey (or others) offered a product in onesies- twosies and then a month or so later: Bam!! - You have to buy 3,000 pieces just to make minimum.?!

There's your pig story.

BTW, I'm not picking on D/K. They all do this (with slow-sellers, I guess?) It can be pretty aggrevating.

-mpm

Hamburg.

Nice city. I used to live near Cologne before moving to the US.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com