Lpc2000

Hi Nick, The MSP430 originated in the mid 90's, and on several occasions 
the local distsi's pointed me at them. At that time they were just 
another obscure processor in ROM with expensive tools, but the low power 
aspects were enough that I followed development. By this time I was 
already using FLASH based processors with uilt in debug (HC12/PIC/etc). 
then in 1999 I became aware that the family was moving to flash, and at 
that time I'd been seeking an ultra low power solution to two problem 
designs. When they arrived the tools were cheap, and the parts were 
excellent, good balanced instruction set etc, and very easy to work 
with. Some nice features not commonly available on other low end micros 
at that time. Since then I've been an avid user. I visited the ARM7 when 
I had a need for something much more powerful than the MSP430, but at 
that time the LPC2xxx  range was too much for my needs, they had no 
analog peripherals until you got to larger parts and their peripheral 
sets were too heavily communicatiosn biased. I didn't need 8 different 
comms interfaces! The ADuC7xxx family from ADI solved this problem 
nicely, but had a few early core problems, anyway both of these, and 
other ARM7 devices turned out to be too current hungry for my needs at 
that time, however that doesn't detract from it being an excellent 
general part for many systems.

On a note regarding Dans comments, we obviously work at the opposite end 
of the fields to each other. I too have worked exclusively in embedded 
design for many years, but whereas he classesd ARM 7 as TINY systems, I 
would class this as the ultimate top end. To me TINY implies 6 or 8 pin 
processors, up to 20 pins at most, sometimes ingestible systems, most of 
my recent work has been on designs no bigger than postage stamps, MEDIUM 
range would be higher end MSP430's. like the MSP430F149/169, which I've 
used in such things as a combined design with motor control and image 
recognition, or an 18 sensor multi-channel navigation and comms system 
about the size of a match box. I haven't done anything I'd class as 
large yet, but would put the ARM7 as the sort of processor I'd use for 
this type of job. Horses for course I guess.

Cheers

Al

nma550n wrote:

>Wow quicker response than I expected, and I didn't get flamed!
>Cheers guys!
>
>I don't really have any constraints to design only really cost, as
>this is a hobby. However, ease of development and uC longevity will help.
>
>I have worked with PIC and various 8051 variants, but the choice was
>already presented. Now I'm coming to start a new fresh project, and I
>just want to know the alternatives. I do believe the ARM core idea is
>excellent, thanks Dan for the expanded info :)
>
>When you go to a Microcontroller webpage, you are always told the
>vague description of what the controller could be used for, which seem
>to be the same.
>
>Anyone know of any comparison page of similar microcontrollers?
>
>Also why not an FPGA? (The only reason I ask that question, is, if I
>ask it in google I will get a whole bunch of white papers from XILINX
>stating why it is so great). Just like a nice open discussion.
>
>On reading that it appears I've asked it again. Sorry Dan, Al, your
>views were welcome.
>
>Quick question AL,
>How did you get to know about the MSP430 family of processors?
>
>Cheers
>
>Nick
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
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