PX41CX

[LinusSch]

(11-01-2024 06:33 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:  

(10-31-2024 02:20 AM)carey Wrote:  Thanks Bob! I appreciate your thoughtful explanation!
Just to play Devil’s advocate, is there a counter argument that even if an enhanced hardware DM41X would not be of much greater value to the consumer, it might still be likely because it would benefit the manufacturer to consolidate production on one hardware platform for their top 3 flagship models?

The reason SM came out with the DM42n is that the CPU in the DM42 is obsolete and almost impossible to get now. Their hand was forced. When the hardware the PX41CX based on is old enough, they'll have to either upgrade or go out of business.

The same goes for everything, when the supply runs out you need to come up with a replacement. But there is a stockpile and a demand to consider. I suspect the "old flagship" assembled PCB stockpile, or possibly the CPU stockpile, at SM can serve the DM41x demand for a long long time - but would have ran out much more quickly had the DM42 stayed on that platform for longer.

As for the AVR128DA28 in the PX41CX, it is in production and to my eyes it does not seem to have a high risk of being outdated and out of production anytime soon - but the latter part of that statement is rather dangerous speculation, really. If you need your business to continuously have something to sell, keep a stockpile big enough that you have time to redesign if you at any moment find yourself suddenly unable to get anymore. Then again, most of the time warning signs can be early or extra stock can be found from some distributor or other.