If the kits that India's students are encouraged able to buy for use in their training have these devices on board, they should be allowed to use them. We've already seen numerous posts that make it clear that (a) it's not practical for students in Asia to use the components you like, mainly because they can't get them under any circumstances, but also because they couldn't pay for them if they could get them, and (b) because the use of the device that you like for application X wouldn't work in application Y. The 8255, for example, was put on many development boards, starting with the early 8080 boards from Intel and ranging well into the 8086, '186, and '286 realm. They're probably on Intel's Multibus-II boards for the '386 and '486 and beyond, but I quit using Intel's boards in about 1987.

It's time, Erik, that you attempt to rectify your cranio-rectitis and look outside your immediate realm. People in Asia have different problems than you. On one hand you say your solutions are targeted at the "hobby" market, yet you constantly recommend only parts that can only be applied on dedicated PCB's. I suggest you limit your recommendations for those people who can't buy in q100K units/week as you apparently do, to those devices which have the same pinout as the original i8051, since that's what's being taught where they are.

These guys have repeatedly stated that they can and do get the 8255, like it or not, where they are, and that they cannot, no matter how much they beg, get the later versions of the 805x core devices about which you constantly trumpet on. They even have trouble getting those devices from (yechhh!) Atmel. Why do you insist that they do what they clearly have complained they cannot?

You're right, they're not pantyhose. However, they're like coveralls, in that, while not elegant or fashionable, they do cover the subject.

If you can't answer their questions, then stop trying to slap them down for asking them.

RE