Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!hplsla!hpvcla!johne From: johne@hpvcla.HP.COM (John Eaton) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Altera software problems Message-ID: <5030011@hpvcla.HP.COM> Date: 5 Dec 88 16:57:05 GMT References: <5095@lynx.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett Packard, Vancouver, WA Lines: 22 <<< < < My reasoning is as follows: Altera is in the business of selling < programmable logic devices, and since only they make the software for < programming their chips, it should be given away so that the chips will < be more widely used. ------------- By that logic companies that make micro's should give away assemblers since that will only help sell the hardware. But in reality they are sold as seperate products. I agree with you in that it would be nice to have a basic no frills method to enter designs that wouldn't cost you an arm and a leg. Something like PALASM2 thhat basiclytranslates your design into a fuse pattern would really be nice. The high priced spiffy tools should be sold because they make the process easier or add extra features but not because they are the only way to do the job. John Eaton !hpvcla!johne