Andy finished his post:

[refrains from further rant about skimping on tools - even for amateur/hobby/DIY use...]

Andy,I don't believe I suggested skimping on tools .I merely suggested what I believe to be a good quality alternative.The Raisonance package offers support for many derivatives and seems to be good value for money.
Somebody with a Scottish name should probably appreciate that.


Also,you stated:

"eg, it's no use a professional carpenter just nipping down to his local DIY shed and buying the cheapest saw he can find if it's blunt within a week's full-time use and so poorly made that it can't be sharpened! "

As it happens I own a good quantity of saws of high quality from the mid to late 1800's.I learnt to sharpen each and every one of them - a dying skill.

I'm not all together sure why you wish to state the obvious related to the Keil software and scopes:

"That's because it's a professional tool - it isn't aimed at hobbyists!

You wouldn't expect to find hobbyists buying the high-spec Tektronix or Agilent (nee HP) scopes, but you also wouldn't expect professionals to be messing around building their own Heathkit scopes... "

I have a high - spec Tektronix scope that I use frequently at work.I've yet to drag it home to work on my 8052 development board.Just because one is a hobbyist in the world of programming microcontrollers does not necessarily mean I approach what I do unprofessionally or even cheaply.Is the word hobbyist banned from this forum?

BTW,good quality cast steel saws accumulate quite well in value if you know what to look for.

Phil Bassett.