Re: Low end desktop for EE tasks?

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:45:16 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Spehro Pefhany wrote:

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:20:46 -0700, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:32:34 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


RST Engineering (jw) wrote:


Yes they do, Jim. But they are just like any other professional that has
been schooled one way. Ask a PhD digital engineer how to design a device
that will keep the headlights on for 30 seconds after you turn the ignition
off and (s)he will tell you how to program a microcontroller for a precise
delay time of 30 seconds. You and I would take an RC time constant into a
fet and call it good. Depends on your skill set.


Nah, use a CD4060. That obsoletes the expensive and failure prone
electrolytic or <gasp> tantalum.

Tantalums are great if you never push a lot of pulse current into
them. Aluminums eventually dry out.

John


Cars wear out pretty fast.If there's a penny savings the manufacturer
might well pick the low leakage aluminum.


Had an article in our local paper today. It stated exactly that attitude
as the main cause for GM's poor sales.

The trick is to find a solution that doesn't cost more but is of higher
quality. A dome light not turning off may seem innocent but can be a
major inconvenience if you return to your car at the airport parking lot
late at night after a 10 day biz trip. Turn the key, click, silence ...
expletive.

IME, usually the optimal solution costs a bit more than the absolute
cheapest solution that meets the specs.

I find it useful to have a feel for d(value)/d$. As consumers, we make
that kind of decision all the time when we decide to spend another $40
for a HDD that's 50% bigger, but to eschew the extended warranty or
whatever.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
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