> I have to add my 2 cents worth. A friend of mine built a complete
> amplifier comprised of 2 813's. Other than the tubes, filament and B+
> transformer, it was built completely with samples.
[Steve Katz] Must admit that does seem the standard frugal "ham
way," and if I could do it, I'd try as well! -WB2WIK/6
> Mike(y)
> W3SLK
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Strohm" <jstrohm@texas.net>
> To: <amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 9:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [AMPS] Free stuff from business and industry
>
>
>
> JimMoci@AOL.COM sez --
>
> >Hey guys- I work for a tech school and we are sent products to evaluate
> >all the time- so much that we have to turn some stuff away. Everything
> >from textbooks, TV's, laptops, software, electronic whiteboards, etc.
> >Panasonic even gave us a $25,000 plasma screen monitor in hopes of
> getting
> >the school district to buy one for every school. It's how business is
> >done- and its how companies get new customers. Not everyone is as frugal
> >as hams. Now lighten up and enjoy the holiday!
>
>
> Nobody said there was anything wrong with businesses providing free stuff
> (pursuant to certain anti-bribery laws, of course).
>
> The issue was whether it was reasonable for a business to _DEMAND_ free
> prototypes when producing and delivering same were not justified by the
> expectation of follow-on business.
>
> I make no bones about accepting free literature and free samples from all
> electronics companies willing to provide them. If I don't have to endure
> the ^&^(&^(* BS some companies want to put me through to get sample
> quantities, it makes me a lot likelier to specify their parts. Nowadays
> (and for several years) my first question to a rep is "How soon can I get
> *one* piece?" The only correct answer is "yes." Until this year,
> Motorola
> couldn't quite figure that one out.
>
> Part of Motorola's current economic woes stem from its insistence on
> focusing on the 20% of the customers that provided 80% of the bookings, to
> the total exclusion of all other business, and often to the exclusion of
> all external customers. I think they've seen that this strategy is
> ineffective, considering that they're now licensing their wireless ICs to
> any company willing to buy them.
>
> Last time I checked, Agilent (HP) and Apple started in a garage, Dell
> Computers started in a dorm room, and National Instruments started out of
> a
> briefcase. And last time I checked, these companies were not especially
> enamored with MOT -- at best, MOT is second-source for Apple processors.
>
> I'm not saying prototypes need to be free. I do feel that samples and
> prototypes should be priced at the hobbyist level, given the nature of
> the
> part (e.g., no free Dahl transformers or Sand Labs 5 KW amps). And I do
> say that any company that shuns the small developer deserves to suffer in
> the marketplace.
>
> Jim N6OTQ
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
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