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YOU SAY TOMATO

by Tom Cantrell

Start ę I Say Tomato ę DSC? ę All Grown Up ę Go Forth and Multiply ę Switch Hitters ę Sources and PDF

"DSP DEAD? In case you havenęt noticed, the distinction between DSPs and micros is blurring, as each side loots the otheręs quiver of architecture and tool tricks." I wrote this in "Something Happened on the Way to the Forum" (Circuit Cellar Online, July 1999).

I still remember the PR person for a DSP outfit who called me practically in tears over my death sentence for her company and career. I quickly reassured her that her patron wasnęt going under and explained that I was simply exaggerating the point, in my usual not-so-delicate way, that labels (DSP, RISC, MIPS, real time, etc.) not only can be, but inevitably are, misused. Y becomes hot, so all the Xs hype their Y-like features. Eventually, the Y frenzy cools, making X relatively hotter so the Ys begin to mimic the Xs. Over time, what was at one time two truly distinct classes of products devolves into a collection of homogeneous hybrids. There used to be just cars and trucks until each, pursuing the otheręs customers, merged into something in-between. Now you can buy a Cadillac SUV or a 4WD mini-van.

So, not wanting to cause any more reader anxiety attacks, let me be clear. Neither the DSP nor the MCU is "dead." Itęs just that you wonęt be able to tell them apart by looking at their datasheets.

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