| ??? 09/04/07 15:11 Read: times |
#143992 - yes, but is it really worth the money? Responding to: ???'s previous message |
Out of curiosity, I browsed at the Acqura site.
It still says, Philips. Are these guys aware that we have 2007 now? OK, time for features list. The list is impressive - I don't understand about half of the items, it usually indicates that it's either very good or related to something which I never came across (that I am stupid enough is well known). The supported devices list is impressive, but, waitaminute, no P89LPC9408 on it... Oh, the pricetag is not the lowest, $599, and then maybe a few extra bucks for accessories, but they give a nice overview of the competition - according to that table, they give a nice value for the money. Just out of curiosity I am downloading the software. Whopping 5.something MB, what would you expect nowadays. But they zipped it up to spare 40kB... of course it is unzippable as it is a result from an installer packager which already zipped it up... OK the installation was really smooth. OK I am the asm guy, so let's try to load some hex from the 8052.com quizes and challenges. The software decides for you which files will he load ("sources"), although it's well documented in the help, it won't say a single word in the program window or status line (like "I did not found the .LST I expected" or "hint: go through several clicks to the options and chose which tool you are going to use so that I can then do the automatic stuff".) I hate programs which decide for me. OK but let's just try, here I have the Metalink assembler (why Metalink? It's their competition, isn't it? why not asem? Or, better, both?). Hex loaded, still no "source files" to choose from, nor any explanation of what happened. The help says something about $LIST directive (I am reluctant to read lengthy helps for a kickstart), so I reassembly, guess what happened... nothing... OK so let's just pretend it's a plain intelhex, reload, now go to the disassembly window aka code pane, guess what, I can't find any relationship between the displayed garbage and the hexfile to be loaded... Let's now try something else... Oh, but no SDCC support - anyway, a professional who has $599 for the tool should have the money for the good stuff compiler, isn't it?.... A am absolutely sure that such a professional tool does work as promised, so it must have somehow guessed that I am no going to spend $599 anyway and disabled me the free tools. Anybody from the company listening here? JW |
