Re: Microcontroller ... which one ??

From: Mark Jones (abuse_at_127.0.0.1)
Date: 12/08/04 

Date: Wed, 08 Dec 2004 10:56:07 -0500

CJunk wrote:
> "~~ VerilogMan ~~" <zoroux7@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:R-CdneomhMyRLD7cRVn-3Q@rogers.com...
>
>>Hello,
>>I am thinking of buiying this graphic display.
>>http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/12864cp/index.html#CFAX12864CP1WGHTS
>>It has a 4 analog I/O for the touch screen, and 18 I/O (the specidications
>>are on the link "Data ***")
>>I have a VERY hard time trying to figure the best microcontroller to
>>interface it with a desktop computer on the serial port.
>>If you could take a look at http://dkc1.digikey.com/CA/PDF/C043/P4.html
>>(Microcontrollers section) and tell me wich one is the easiest / most
>>efficient, i would appreciate big time !
>>Thanks guys!
>>
>>
>
>
> I am not much help with that. One thing I know. is BECARFULL buying from
> Digi Key
>
> I am in australia and they charged me $87US($120AUD) for a Digi Key card
> board Box. the parts where around $30US.
>
> I have gotten things from the US in the post for *** loads cheaper airfare
> than that. Digi key did end up giving me half the shipping cost back,
> after trying to rip me off. so in the end I still paid $45US for a card
> board box. legal scammers. Basically they sell card board boxes and throw
> in a few electronic components. But that might only be if you live in an
> other country. maybe they have a mentality of 'screw people in other
> countries besides the USA'
>
> anyway....be carefull
>
>

  Hi, I'm from the US and I've ordered many things from Digikey and
have never had a problem. Maybe that is an exception, but what exactly
do you mean they "charged you for the box." Are you saying that
Digikey charged $87 for shipping, or "shipping and handling", or
"handling," or "Excise tax," what?

  I can't imagine shipping a parcel from the US to Australia would
cost more than $25- unless you ordered a 500-pound item? Where exactly
is the error?

  That said, I have heard of some exporting issues with Digikey.
Thanks to our wonderful leadership and legal system, every package
that enters or exits the US is subject to extreme scrutiny. I heard
where someone in Canada was ordering some parts to make hobby kits and
Digikey wrote them a legal letter asking 20 questions about the exact
nature of the hobby kits. Digi-key would not ship until they recieved
a valid, legal response. We can argue about the intent, or if anyone
actually follows another country's laws. But the problem might not be
Digikey's fault per se, they could have simply been following the
current export laws.

  Some would say, with all the terrorist activity, that the US might
be taking a defensive posture towards other nations. I wouldn't say
that's so personally. I have always considered Australia a beautiful
and friendly place. So I doubt you or Australia is being singled out
specifically.

  So if anything, join with the rest of the world in badmouthing the
US, and understand that unless Digi-key made a gross error, they were
probably following yet another stupid law.

-M