---------------------------------------------------------------------- This file is available via anon FTP: cherupakha.media.mit.edu: pub/projects/miniboard/douglas.txt last update: Fri Oct 7 08:47:04 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ANNOUNCING THE MINI BOARD 2.1 EXTENDED !!! The Mini Board 2.1 Extended is the latest version of the Mini Board. It is based on the Mini Board 2.0 Extended (see file pub/miniboard/docs/mbextend.txt), and includes the following new features: * full six-wire SPI jacks include power, ground, and all four SPI wires. * optional diode protection prevents reverse-polarity voltage input when using DC power jack. * power and ground on Port A headers may be bridged to motor power and ground, allowing RC servos to be plugged directly into the Port A header (when using a 5.5 to 6v power supply). * extra space between PLCC socket and female header connectors to allow for newer, slightly larger PLCC sockets. * mounting holes drilled for single RJ11 jack (for RS-232 serial), saving money on triple RJ11 jack if SPI ports are not to be used. Download the file pub/miniboard/docs/mb21ext.PS.Z to see the silkscreen of the new board. ANNOUNCING A NEW SOURCE OF BLANK MINI BOARD PCBs !!! I am pleased to announce that Douglas Electronics, a Macintosh PCB CAD software house and a commercial PCB fab facility, is a new distributor of blank Mini Board PCBs. Following is pricing info prepared by Bill Schuler, a Mini Board aficionado who is responsible for Douglas's becoming a distributor. Muchas gracias, Bill!! -Fred Fred Martin | fredm@media.mit.edu | (617) 253-5108 | 20 Ames St. Rm. E15-320 Epistemology and Learning Group, MIT Media Lab | Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DOUGLAS ELECTRONICS MINI BOARD ORDERING INFO: Pricing for the new mini-board is as follows: ------------------------------------------ 1 board only ................. $ 10.00 2 to 9 boards ................ 7.50 ea. 10 to 50 boards .............. 6.25 ea. 50 and over .................. 5.00 ea. ------------------------------------------ There is also a dollar volume discount on all of our breadboard products, that applies over and above the per-board quantity discounts, as follows: ------------------------------------------ $ 500 5% $1000 10% $2500 15% $5000 20% ------------------------------------------ This allows you to combine several of our prototyping products into one large order for even greater savings. Note: The dollar volume discount does not apply to our gold finished items because of the wide fluctuations in gold prices, so the prices for the non-gold-plated versions will be used to determine the dollar volume to find the discount percentage in those cases, even though the prices on the invoice will be for the gold plated versions that were ordered. This seems a bit confusing at first blush, but by exempting the gold from the equation, the breakpoints can happen at much lower total dollar volumes, which is better for most customers. Put simply: we do not discount the gold. (The mini-board has no gold plating whatever, so it is a straight calculation anyway, but I always have to make this exception clear when mentioning the dollar volume discount, so it does not come as a surprise later.) =========================================================================== Bill Schuler, Bill_Schuler@douglas.com Douglas Electronics, Inc. Phone: US+ 510 483-8770 2777 Alvarado Street FAX: US+ 510 483-6453 San Leandro, California 94577 USA FirstClass BBS: US+ 510 483-6548 -- Creators of the Douglas CAD/CAM System for Macintosh PCB Design -- ===========================================================================