🚀 go-pugleaf

[In the message entitled "Re: ET532 summary so far" on May  1, 22:55, randy hyde writes:]
> As for the initial startup costs:  Might I suggest a scheme to lower
> the costs somewhat.  Why not do the same thing you did on the initial
> run of PC532s?  Convince National to sample the 32gx532 parts on the
> first run?  This would more than offset the extra cost of the board.
> People could buy them now and get the chip for free or buy them later and
> have to scrounge the chip themselves. 
> National, if they supplied a few free samples now, could get additional
> sales later on when other boards sold, not to mention all these engineers
> gaining experience with their chips :-).

The GX32's are around $100 in low volume. Getting them for nothing will not
significantly improve the  $550 board cost. The OCART chips are $22 each
(each one does 8 channels). The ROM is $3. The RAM is about $200-300 (price
subject to change without notice). The Ethernet chip set is about $60-70.
The power supply for the Ethernet is about $20. SCSI chip is about $15.

The cost of parts is about 50% of the cost of the board... 

We got AMAZINGLY good support on the first 50 boards we did - we obtained
$50,000 worth of chips for nothing (and passed the savings on to you, I
will add for those people following news.admin this week ;-)

Let's not push it. National deserves the money for these components.
If you can convince your local rep that you have a valid application for
the GX, great. If you can't, then pay the price...

[in my opinion, of course]



-- 
Dave Rand
{pyramid|mips|bct|vsi1}!daver!dlr	Internet: dlr@daver.bungi.com