...I would like to share some info that maybe not many know...

For those of you who are building things and say that they do not have or cannot get particular parts and make do with what they have which may or may not work (recent discussion of LS vs. HC parts), here is a list of the manufacturers who sample parts online, without needing a corporate account.

On Semiconductor (spinoff from motorola, does logic and power)
National Semiconductor
Analog Devices (oh yeeeeah!!!! we love ADI!)
Texas Instruments

There's several others, but if you can get what you want from those four, you're not looking hard enough.

I didn't put a stupid subject like FREE PARTS or try to say I'll charge you for info on how to get free parts, etc...or even try to sell these parts (some people do, you know). If you have an internet connection, now you can get a limited supply of free high-quality parts. They do limit quantities, but what do you expect when they're just giving them away??? They also come next or second day air, which is super cool if you live in the US and the parts are actually on the shelf domestically. I've gotten parts in as quick as a day.

Any questions about soldering, fabricating, PCB, prototyping tools/products, etc, feel free to ask...I don't have time to cruise boards but once a week or so, so don't get bent or think I'm not going to answer if you don't get an immediate response.

-herb