Free sample chips!

[mixos]

If you don

[mozikluv]

  hi there mixos, this is what i have been waiting for, you're right dont easily find the free button sample. thanx, thanx, thanx for this post. more power to this community.

[xenix]

yeap the free chip thing works ..got a friend in the states thats mentioned he did it and encouraged me to do the same

[billy]

I have just ordered some free component samples from MAXIM. This
is amazing You get them for free ! How is that possible ?

Anyway, I would like to ask if there are any other companies that
do the same as well.

And finally, has any greek fellow ordered from MAXIM with regular (free) shipping ? If yes, how long does it take for the mail to reach home ?

[EDY]

check this post
http://www.electronics-lab.com/forum/index.php?board=17;action=display;threadid=21
Cheers

[MP]

How this is possible:

The IC companies want "you" the engineer to use their product in a design. If they give you a 25 cent part and you make a good design with it and it becomes a product, they will sell thousands of this part to the manufacturer of the product. This kind of makes you a part of their sales team in a way.
I have gotten many microprocessor chips this way. It is better than purchasing several and then deciding which ones are best for your project. Also, many have a link to their newsletter and they will inform you if there is a new part. You can get a sample of it before it hits the market. Check the "Yes" box for the newsletter from these companies.

MP

[billy]

Yes, you are totally right ! I just ordered my first microprocessor from
microchip in order to play around with it

Any recommendations of other good and popular samples to get
from various companies ? I am quite new with thirst to learn new
things, please help Thanks  

[MP]

Billy, Mixos might be a better source for the Microchip devices (PIC). I have not used them for quite some time now. I primarily use the Atmel AVR series and ATMEGA series. In my case, I have a local distributor, which takes my sample order and ships them to me, usually 2 each.

MP

[mixos]

Can anyone suggest any interesting chips that availaible as samples? I am starting with some:

MAXIM
MAX038 - High-Frequency Waveform Generator
DS1869 - 3V Dallastat Electronic Digital Rheostat
ICL7107 - 3 1/2 Digit A/D Converter  LED
DS1920 - Temperature iButton
DS1620 - Thermometer Sensor

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
TPA1517 - 6-W Stereo Audio Power Amplifier
TMP100 - Digital Temperature Sensor with I2C Serial Interface
UC3770 - High Performance Stepper Motor Drive Circuit

MICROCHIP
MCP42100 - 100 K Digital Potensiometer
PIC16C765 - 24Mhz, 256 RAM USB, USART, 8ADC, PWM 2, 3+WDT

any others?

[billy]

Texas, national and microchip worked fine, I am waiting for my
free samples. Texas offers free courier shipping too ! unbelievable !

Nevertheless, the fairchild company doesn't work because you
cannot register in order to get the samples.

I wonder if I can make more than one orders to the same address...

[Kasamiko]

  just ordered 30 pcs of chips from TI..and I received it within 5 working days via UPS..and yet I request another 80 pcs.! of their products and they shipped them all promtly!! .
In fact I just received a call from UPS telling me that my package has just arrived!!
 

[sri karthik]

hi  in most of the sites u specified that they issue free samples dows not high light my country plz specifiy sites which does free samples for india  

[mixos]

just ordered 30 pcs of chips from TI..and I received it within 5 working days via UPS..and yet I request another 80 pcs.! of their products and they shipped them all promtly!!  .
In fact I just received a call from UPS telling me that my package has just arrived!!

Kasamiko, can you tell as what chips you ordered?

[billy]

Hello all ! This is the crash test of the major semiconductor companies regarding their free sample service. The test trial was carried out during January and the results are the following (recipient in Greece) :

GOLD MEDAL : Texas Instruments  
Ordered : 3/1/04
Delivered : 7/1/04
Time taken : 3 business days (!!!)
Delivered via : UPS
Package : Excellent (large paper box, ICs packaged in their original plastic tubes and each tube was put inside an antistatic bag. All antistatic bags were protected with lots of extra paper).


SILVER MEDAL : Maxim - Dallas Semiconductors  
Ordered : 3/1/04
Delivered : 12/1/04
Time taken : 6 business days
Delivered via : Regular post (not registered)
Package : Poor (plain envelope with no bubbles, ICs in plastic antistatic cases, but one of two broke in delivery).

BRONZE MEDAL : Microchip  
Ordered : 6/1/04
Delivered : 19/1/04
Time taken : 9 business days
Delivered via : Registered post
Package : Excellent (ICs in plastic antistatic cases, cases wrapped in bubbles and put inside paper boxes).

DID NOT QUALIFY
1) National Semiconductor : A great disappointment, I ordered some items on 3/1/04 and they are still 'in process' !!!!!  
2) Fairchild : Does not send samples to Greece !!!!!