Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!uunet!indetech!daver!bungi.com!news From: dlr@daver.bungi.com (Dave Rand) Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k Subject: Re: ET532 summary so far Message-ID: Date: 2 May 91 23:51:32 GMT Sender: news@daver.bungi.com Lines: 34 Approved: news@daver.bungi.com [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