Holiday planning tip: have your parts handy for your favorite project!

[Ken Gracey]

Hey all,

This isn't a pitch to place more orders with Parallax. It's just a reminder that with Christmas right around the corner we should plan carefully to have the materials to pursue our favorite hobby, product designs, or education.

Most of what our forum members like to do isn't easily accomplished with a trip to Wal-Mart. We need to plan ahead to get components, sensors, boards, RF devices, fabrication materials and supplies. That's what I'm reminding you to do - don't be stuck with a couple of days free without the ability to pursue a project. The Christmas break provides all of us with some free time for personal use, so plan ahead accordingly.

In my case, I'll be working on a first-person view setup for my ELEV-8. I also have a few Penguins to assemble and will use the time to scratch down some planning notes around the Propeller.

I'll be visiting the forums as a user, not as an employee of Parallax. Maybe I should make a second login [using a cat] so I could write freely.

In any case, I look forward to the break and working on a couple of projects.

Sincerely,

Ken Gracey

[Whit]

Try to get some sun too. You're looking a bit green.

[Ken Gracey]

Thank you, Whit. It must be those candied fruitcakes that a few customers sent to Parallax. These aren't a common occurrence in California - since we don't have the stomach enzymes to break them down I've been turning a bit more green with each byte(!).

Ken Gracey87726

[4x5n]

I don't anticipate a break for Christmas but do have a project to spend some time on. :-)

I do have to admit that one of the places I go to for components is Newark Electronics. They have great prices if you're willing or able to buy in quantity. Not that long ago I bought a number of 5% 1/4W carbon resistors at $.01ea in qty of 100. That's $1 for 100 resistors!! I also bought hundred lots of 2n3904, 2n3906 and I forget the part # of the n channel mosfet. The average price was $.07 ea. After a bit of work and effort I managed to spend $40 plus shipping but it took some effort!! Their website is confusing and makes it hard to just browse but their prices, stock and delivery times are great!

For the record I have no financial interest in Newark electronics and am just a happy customer!

[davejames]

Most of what our forum members like to do isn't easily accomplished with a trip to Wal-Mart.

Sir - I hear you!

Tomorrow will be a run to Halted, the local surplus house for gobs of 1000pF silver mica caps and 1.5k metal film resistors (or whatever they have close). Everything else is in-hand.

My "day-job company" closes during the week between Christmas and New Years...and I'm really looking forward to the time. It'll be a major push on the flagship product/project.

[Cluso99]

I have plenty of pcbs to get code working on :) Hopefully I have all the parts (well, I know I have a few missing but never mind - I am not going to get them ordered before the NY).

[erco]

I have all the parts to finish my BS-1 knock block. It's mostly done!