Joe,
You seem to be under the impression that SMD's are "new". I obtained my
first "flat packs" in 1968. And they were surplus from some type of
computer, at that time. Sylvania made them - SUHL was the logic family of
these gates and flip-flops; I still have the two boards (less two or three
ic's I pulled off to play with) and the data sheets. The data sheets
indicate they were made in 1965 and 66.
They couldn't sell the package to anyone but military and commercial
customers (neither of which ever wants their boards to be "hackable") then
and the DIP became the standard for experimenters. Unfortunately, as you
alluded to earlier in this thread, there is not much of an electronic
tinkerer's market anymore. Now that more commercial apps. exist, the
manufacters can force what few tinkerers there are to accept the more
economical to produce SMD packages.
I readily admit that there are only a few options for experimenters when
the cold hard facts are faced.
1) gripe and cease building at the cutting edge of ic technology as I have
done;
2) buckle down and force oneself to say "SMD soldering is good for me- I
deserve it."(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist );
or 3) look for other options - Dave, Mike W, and you have made some good,
pertinent comments about daughterboards and adapters (a "Manhattan Style"
adapter with the ic soldered on would be just as useable as a DIP adapter -
if someone wants to take up Dave's challange.); just to prove that I'm not
the old stuck in my ways fart that some probably envision me as, I am
investigating DDS out a PCI or AGP slot of a pc (too bad video speed d/a
converters are unobtainable.) ;-).
May the hobby continue to grow and be fun for all who find it.

--
Chip
KC5UES
real e-mail address:






-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----