Buying Cheap Hardware
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I am trying to get started with embedded programming. I came across this website http://www.sparkfun.com/[^], which has a lot of tutorials and hardware. However, I find the hardware a bit expensive. Like buying a circuit board for $30, plus a few other accessories would make it about a $100. Are their any websites that can sell hardware for a much cheaper price? Also, My concern is that, for instance, I can buy a cordless phone for about $30 at best buy, but if I was to assemble that on my own, it would be over $200. So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price? Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it? *I'm obviously a student, and have a really tight budget, please guide. =(
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I am trying to get started with embedded programming. I came across this website http://www.sparkfun.com/[^], which has a lot of tutorials and hardware. However, I find the hardware a bit expensive. Like buying a circuit board for $30, plus a few other accessories would make it about a $100. Are their any websites that can sell hardware for a much cheaper price? Also, My concern is that, for instance, I can buy a cordless phone for about $30 at best buy, but if I was to assemble that on my own, it would be over $200. So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price? Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it? *I'm obviously a student, and have a really tight budget, please guide. =(
Well, as far as price point of embedded kits... it depends on what you want, but $100 is a relatively inexpensive kit. Don't know if you're going to find much cheaper than that. And as for the question about why you can buy something so cheap that would cost you a lot more to make yourself, well that's mass production at its best. Once a design has been and a prototype has been accepted, assembly lines (usually in a country where price of labor is also cheap) will be outfitted to mass produce circuit boards and the rest of the assemblies. Parts in bulk are usually significantly much cheaper to buy, so these mass producers buy things like resistors, capacitors, and so on in the thousands or millions (to see price differences in these small parts, go to digikey.com[^] and try random parts, and that's through a 3rd party vendor, big corporations have direct relationships with part manufacturers). The combined outcome of buying in bulk and assembly lines is significant savings to the consumer.
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I am trying to get started with embedded programming. I came across this website http://www.sparkfun.com/[^], which has a lot of tutorials and hardware. However, I find the hardware a bit expensive. Like buying a circuit board for $30, plus a few other accessories would make it about a $100. Are their any websites that can sell hardware for a much cheaper price? Also, My concern is that, for instance, I can buy a cordless phone for about $30 at best buy, but if I was to assemble that on my own, it would be over $200. So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price? Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it? *I'm obviously a student, and have a really tight budget, please guide. =(
Pathachiever wrote:
So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price?
Give away the phone for free, ask money for the traffic :)
Pathachiever wrote:
Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it?
They might have decided to sell the product at a loss for six months to get a stable userbase and increase marketshare. Isn't there a local radio shack in your neighbourhood? There's also some online stores like Conrad[^], depending on your location.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss:
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Well, as far as price point of embedded kits... it depends on what you want, but $100 is a relatively inexpensive kit. Don't know if you're going to find much cheaper than that. And as for the question about why you can buy something so cheap that would cost you a lot more to make yourself, well that's mass production at its best. Once a design has been and a prototype has been accepted, assembly lines (usually in a country where price of labor is also cheap) will be outfitted to mass produce circuit boards and the rest of the assemblies. Parts in bulk are usually significantly much cheaper to buy, so these mass producers buy things like resistors, capacitors, and so on in the thousands or millions (to see price differences in these small parts, go to digikey.com[^] and try random parts, and that's through a 3rd party vendor, big corporations have direct relationships with part manufacturers). The combined outcome of buying in bulk and assembly lines is significant savings to the consumer.
I wasn't aware of how mass production can substantially reduce prices! Thanks for looking into my question and helping me out. I'll definitely look into digikey.com. Thanks!
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson "Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?" - Clifford Stoll
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I am trying to get started with embedded programming. I came across this website http://www.sparkfun.com/[^], which has a lot of tutorials and hardware. However, I find the hardware a bit expensive. Like buying a circuit board for $30, plus a few other accessories would make it about a $100. Are their any websites that can sell hardware for a much cheaper price? Also, My concern is that, for instance, I can buy a cordless phone for about $30 at best buy, but if I was to assemble that on my own, it would be over $200. So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price? Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it? *I'm obviously a student, and have a really tight budget, please guide. =(
Eddy has it right. They are LOSING money on the phone, but they make it back on the contract you are tied into. Same with printers and cartridges. How can a printer cost $50 and a cartridge $10? Anyway, $100 for an electronics kit and tutorials is cheap IMO, espcially if it leads on to you learning something you can sell. :)
"The whole idea that carbon dioxide is the main cause of the recent global warming is based on a guess that was proved false by empirical evidence during the 1990s." climate-models-go-cold
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I am trying to get started with embedded programming. I came across this website http://www.sparkfun.com/[^], which has a lot of tutorials and hardware. However, I find the hardware a bit expensive. Like buying a circuit board for $30, plus a few other accessories would make it about a $100. Are their any websites that can sell hardware for a much cheaper price? Also, My concern is that, for instance, I can buy a cordless phone for about $30 at best buy, but if I was to assemble that on my own, it would be over $200. So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price? Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it? *I'm obviously a student, and have a really tight budget, please guide. =(
If you want to start with something very basic, Ti has a board for only $4.30[^]. Dunno how far you can get beyond blinking LEDs without having to buy extra parts though.... Edit: ...and even then, the highest end cpu in the series only has 16k flash for your software and 512bytes of ram.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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Eddy has it right. They are LOSING money on the phone, but they make it back on the contract you are tied into. Same with printers and cartridges. How can a printer cost $50 and a cartridge $10? Anyway, $100 for an electronics kit and tutorials is cheap IMO, espcially if it leads on to you learning something you can sell. :)
"The whole idea that carbon dioxide is the main cause of the recent global warming is based on a guess that was proved false by empirical evidence during the 1990s." climate-models-go-cold
You have a point, but the device I am planning to make would require a Bluetooth adapter, video adapter, etc. That would probably go over $200. Still, I hope to learn something from it. :) Thanks!
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson "Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?" - Clifford Stoll
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Pathachiever wrote:
So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price?
Give away the phone for free, ask money for the traffic :)
Pathachiever wrote:
Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it?
They might have decided to sell the product at a loss for six months to get a stable userbase and increase marketshare. Isn't there a local radio shack in your neighbourhood? There's also some online stores like Conrad[^], depending on your location.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss:
You're right. I got my HTC Inspire for $45 at Sams Club, but probably took over $500 to make it.
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson "Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?" - Clifford Stoll
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I wasn't aware of how mass production can substantially reduce prices! Thanks for looking into my question and helping me out. I'll definitely look into digikey.com. Thanks!
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson "Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?" - Clifford Stoll
Compare the cost of even a surface mount resistor when you're buying 1 versus buying 15000. One is probably about 10-15 cents, 15000 is probably about a cent or less, I imagine if you buy a million units its probably a fraction of a cent each.
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Pathachiever wrote:
So the second question is: how do companies assemble these devices and sell them for such a cheap price?
Give away the phone for free, ask money for the traffic :)
Pathachiever wrote:
Doesn't that mean the hardware they are getting/making is also very cheap? So where do they get it?
They might have decided to sell the product at a loss for six months to get a stable userbase and increase marketshare. Isn't there a local radio shack in your neighbourhood? There's also some online stores like Conrad[^], depending on your location.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss:
You're right, this has been the model that many have taken the last ~5-7 years, but usually only on most products that have a service associated with it.
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You have a point, but the device I am planning to make would require a Bluetooth adapter, video adapter, etc. That would probably go over $200. Still, I hope to learn something from it. :) Thanks!
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson "Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?" - Clifford Stoll
Even at 200 bucks your education is worth it. When you are earning that kind of money per day doing embedded code for PC comms devices, you will laugh that you ever thought it expemnsive. :)
"The whole idea that carbon dioxide is the main cause of the recent global warming is based on a guess that was proved false by empirical evidence during the 1990s." climate-models-go-cold
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If you want to start with something very basic, Ti has a board for only $4.30[^]. Dunno how far you can get beyond blinking LEDs without having to buy extra parts though.... Edit: ...and even then, the highest end cpu in the series only has 16k flash for your software and 512bytes of ram.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
Hey guy, United ahead electronics.,ltd here, selling IC PARTS with good quality and low price. contact me by eamil:diana@united-ahead-electronics.com