I am innocent, but let me apologize on behalf of Xilinx.
We should all make sure that our information is correct, and especially
so when we mention the competitor. Let's stay away from mudslinging!

Peter Alfke
===================
Dave Greenfield wrote:
 
> I think this site would be better served without incorrect competitive
> FUD.
> 
> Dave Greenfield
> Altera Corporation
> 
>  

Suppliers don't become market leaders by discontinuing 90% of their
product lines.
There is a clear note in the document referenced that highlights
"selected products"; Altera is not obsoleting any product lines. We do
selectively prune ordering codes (i.e. speed grades, packages, or
extended temp products) when demand is extremely low; during this
process we issue product discontinuation notices (PCNs). Altera also
provides a site to search for all obsolete devices at:
http://www.altera.com/products/devices/common/dev-obsolete_device_search.html.
The actual number of obsoleted products is ~ 2% not 90%.

I think this site would be better served without incorrect competitive
FUD.

Dave Greenfield
Altera Corporation

 > Incidentally, why isn't it interesting when our main CPLD
competitor
> > announces discontinuing about 90% of their product line?
> > See page 29 of this:
> > http://www.altera.com/literature/nv/03nvq3.pdf
> > 
> > Jesse Jenkins, Xilinx CPLDs
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > Good day!
> > 
>

Chris Carlen <crcarle@BOGUS.sandia.gov> wrote in 
news:bq0tcn0217m@enews2.newsguy.com:

> Greetings:
> 
> Here's a response from a Xilinx fellow who responded to me by email 
> regarding my recent query on the group about XPLA3 seeming to be 
> de-emphasized on the Xilinx web site:
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Rumors of our demise are highly exaggerated!
> 
> Xilinx currently has no intention of discontinuing the XPLA3
> CPLD product line.  This family is on the same fab module as
> our highly successful XC9500XL family, which is also still
> flying very high.  These families are still gaining market share!
> 
> I don't know how to post things on comp.arch, but you can quote
> me there if you wish.
> 
> Incidentally, why isn't it interesting when our main CPLD competitor
> announces discontinuing about 90% of their product line?
> See page 29 of this:
> http://www.altera.com/literature/nv/03nvq3.pdf
> 
> Jesse Jenkins, Xilinx CPLDs
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Good day!
> 

I just started considering the CoolRunner XPLA3. I think that Xilinx is 
sending this message on their web site (perhaps unintentionally).

If you click on Products & Services from their home page, you are lead to 
believe that the only CPLDs that Xilinx is interested in selling are 
their CoolRunner-II parts. They list several FPGA families. The name 
CoolRunner -II also implies that the CoolRunner XPLA3 is the old obsolete 
family. All it would take is one line after the CoolRunner -II bullet to 
convey a different message.

I would suggest that they change their web site to reflect those products 
that they truly consider appropriate for new design. If the XPLA3 is one 
of these products, then don't bury the product info.

The XPLA3 has the advantage that they are 3.3V parts that are 5V 
tolerant. The CoolRunner - II requires a 1.8V supply which even for us 
DSP guys is not always available. Furthermore, there are still some 
reasons to have 5V tolerant I/O.

Chris, maybe you can forward this to Jesse Jenkins.

Just my two cents worth.....



-- 
Al Clark
Danville Signal Processing, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Purveyors of Fine DSP Hardware and other Cool Stuff
Available at http://www.danvillesignal.com

Greetings:

Here's a response from a Xilinx fellow who responded to me by email 
regarding my recent query on the group about XPLA3 seeming to be 
de-emphasized on the Xilinx web site:

---------------------------------------------------------------
Rumors of our demise are highly exaggerated!

Xilinx currently has no intention of discontinuing the XPLA3
CPLD product line.  This family is on the same fab module as
our highly successful XC9500XL family, which is also still
flying very high.  These families are still gaining market share!

I don't know how to post things on comp.arch, but you can quote
me there if you wish.

Incidentally, why isn't it interesting when our main CPLD competitor
announces discontinuing about 90% of their product line?
See page 29 of this:
http://www.altera.com/literature/nv/03nvq3.pdf

Jesse Jenkins, Xilinx CPLDs
---------------------------------------------------------------

Good day!

-- 
____________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser/Optical Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
crcarle@sandia.gov