Back when the '420 was hard to get we needed 100 pcs. Due to the way early engineering samples were being allocated we could only get 80 pcs. The Maxim inside sales person had us request 20 pcs. as "samples" and we had our 100 pcs.

It turns out that anyone can get a sample and they keep a database where they track that only so many chips across types are being acquired as samples by any one person (unless a rep is involved).


Dallas/Maxim is very generous in my experience. Maxim, in the past, has been to generous. They would rush early samples of a chip at "eng. sample" phase and then discontinue the part at a time approx. equal to when our design was ready for production.

'420 is a great chip and very fast.

regards,
p