Lpc2000

> That ain't comparing apples with apples. The EP9301, although a 
very > nice chip is in a different league. At 1" square, and hello, 
where's the   on-board Flash and Ram?, the EP is not going to fit 
into the low-end of  the market that the 2000 does.

I agre to that a internal Flash would have been nice but the EP
can boot from SPI,UART or RAM wich is allso nice!

Some times everything depends on volumes and price to customers
and how much over head you whant on your product, for me who
deals with units in 100-200'eds the 2-3 euro difference dosent
matter much if i can get so many more functions.And in this case 
where power consumption are not the prime target.

For instance i use the LP2106 instead of the MSP430F147 due to
lack of RAM and speed if TI would have done a 100Mhz or even a
50MHz MSP430 i would switch over again! And i Use the MSP because
its simple to program. (i whis the LPC was that simple!)

There is so many reasons why one uses or looking for alternative 
MCU's, for instance i have been using HC11 for years but switched 
over to MSP for a load of reasons.

>Even if it only 
>costs 10 cents, the cost of the other components, their size, and 
their  power requirements would add a hefty burden to low-end designs.

If it cost 10 cent i would replace many things! Particularely
in situations where you dont need certain peripherials who could
be turned of to save power.
 
> I've can get the 2104's for around AUD$8 here in Oz and that's 
cheaper 
> than my 16-bit 60K Flash MSP430s that I use. By way of comparison 
some 
> 8-bit ATMEGA8535s cost me $5, and PIC12C509s I get for around 
$1.70. So 
> I guess Uncle Phil's babies get my vote!

Most of the time im looking for MCUs in 100 range for max 10-12eu
its a crude and simple and perhaps a bit naive way as a starting 
point, its like " what do i get for 10euro" ,instead of using the
base of looking to the provided functions or speed or what ever.
Its to many MCU' to chose from, i dont have the time or interest
to look into any other way!!Im drowning my self in MCU's!!! I get
a swelling  itching brain, im paralysed, im getting MPD of this!!
(as i said crude and simple).

For instance i have huge pile of 16Mhz MC68000 (450units)
and several plates of 25Mhz 68020, what on earth would i do
with them?? 

(i was thinking of doing som art with it, a copy of the tower of
Pisa).

My motto:
Why wrestling with 8 bit when you can wrestle with 32 bits! :-)

As Tsvetsan pointed out the SDRAM is cheap!

Reg
KD