| ??? 09/16/09 16:45 Read: times |
#168920 - It's all about cost Responding to: ???'s previous message |
Per Westermark said:
Except that most Keil users who move from a 8051 will probably move to an ARM7 or Cortex-M3 core with RAM starting at 1k and flash starting at 8k. Since single-chippers aren't the only way to use ARM, approaching embedded problems with board-level products is quite feasible. As I mentioned before, there are very decent ARM boards complete with LINUX for about $140. Take a look. This one's offered on eBay, though it's not just a onesie. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayIS...K:MEWAX:IT It is what you'd call "loaded" and easily competes with 805x boards costing more, yet offering much less. It certainly suggests one doesn't have to use an ARM7 unless there's good reason. That means that the smallest ARM chips can compete with most other processors on cost, while still having big brothers/sisters matching older PC systems.
When starting with the ARM7 or Cortex-M3 cores, the Keil/ARM tools should normally get you going way faster than the gcc route. gcc isn't bad, but it doesn't match the code quality on the tests I have done. And there is still less documentation and examples. But gcc will most definitely be a stiff competitor. True, perhaps, but gcc is thousands of $US cheaper. If one isn't totally persuaded that ARM is the way, then buying the KEIL ARM tools would be a bit silly, wouldn't it? The LINUX that comes with the board I mentioned is ready to go with gcc available at no cost. Until KEIL can compete with gcc on cost, I'll stick with gcc. When starting with the larger ARM cores, it is more natural to start with a complete kit with free OS and free compiler.
Consider, that every one for whom I produce code/hardware can get the gcc tools at the same cost as I bear. Likewise for the KEIL tools. I'm not going to impose that additional cost on my clients unless I absolutely have to do so. RE |
