Old Computer Collecting vs Electronics Building

[Jos Dreesen / Marian Capel]

Tony Duell wrote:
>>
>> One thing I've been concerned about for a while is what seems to be the
>> lack of electronics building skills. *My* feeling is the desire to work
>> on this stuff is going away and I'm not sure why. I DO NOT BUY the
>> argument that components are so small now that nobody can build or hack
> 
> Nor do I. The larger SMD parts are perfectly easy to homebrew with, and I 
> am quite sure _I'll_ find a way to use even BGAs as/when I have to. That 
> said, there are plenty of pin-through-hole parts around still.

I most certainly believe that newer devices are problematic.

Older SMD is doable, newer stuff is getting very hard. One 432 pin BGA 
FPGA MIGHT  be doable in the converted toaster, but what is the 
successrate going to be if you need say 4 or 5 BGAs in your design ?

I wanted to construct a efficient LED lighting system for my bike.
Turns out all these white led driver IC ic s are in MLP or TDFN 
packages.... Not even a SOT8 variant available.

> things you can't buy. And thirdly, nothing (IMHO) compares with the 
> feeling when one of your homebrew designs works. 

That, of course, is very true.

> There are no good well-paid, satisfying jobs in those areas. 

You probably look in the wrong places. I know a UK based electronics 
designer (ic designer, not self-employed), who makes 50K pounds a year.
Sounds pretty decent to me....
One reason has to be that her skillset does NOT include knowing how to 
use TTL.


In general, for those listreaders with fear of the future of technics in 
Europe or the US (and I am also one of those engineers whose job will 
end up in Shanghai):

There are examples of very successful, small, Europe-based companies 
being run by tinkerers. My favorite ( sorry, very OT, not electronics 
based )is www.velomobiel.nl

They (3 people) design and build their products themselves, in expensive 
Europe, are already fully booked until the end of 2009 and make a decent 
living from it.

It is all about being inventive and having the right product and 
quality. I certainly enjoy my Mango.....

				Jos Dreesen