Thoughts on Application Engineers

An aside:

In my dealings with application engineers in the workplace, they are almost guaranteed to be very helpful and generous with their time. However, when doing a project on your own, it is much more difficult to get assistance from them.

I found some really cool chips from Texas Instruments that would have changed the design of the controller significantly. It was a predictive chip for driving synchronous rectifiers, allowing me to get rid of the freewheeling diodes. I called up TI to find out what I could do to drive a mosfet with a larger gate capacitance than the chip was rated for; a simple enough request. Even a 'not possible' would have sufficed. I spent about 15 minutes on the phone; first on hold, then giving them information on my problem. Two days later I get a form response
"Due to an increased number of inquiries, we would like to inform you that we are unable to provide technical or application support to meet your need at this time"

I read this as "we value your business - since you don't have a business, we don't value you".

That really spoke to me. A company decides that they are going to blatantly ignore a student in electrical engineering. (I haven't walked across the stage yet so I think it's still fair to call me a student)
I mean, what does TI expect? That I will never get a job, and never have to make part selection decisions?
It may not happen, true. But if it does, and I have two equally suited chips - TI's and someone else's, who do you think I will pick? Yes, the cheaper one. Sigh. If I had a choice though, any choice at all, I would not use a TI chip.

Perhaps that is a little harsh of me, but I feel a really strong backhand when someone tells me to shove off in a form letter email.


I also asked Microsemi for some help on the freewheel diodes that I am choosing. Not only did they respond, but I had a very pleasant back-and-forth email conversation with *one* application engineer (better than re-explaining yourself every time!) for about 7 emails each. They were all short, and probably took about half an hour of the man's time, total. And the goodwill they generated!

In short: Thank you Microsemi for being a sensible company, and helping me out with my project.
TI - you should remember what I said to Microsemi. Who are your future customers but students?
TI you should re-examine your long term business model about student relations.

I would gladly welcome feedback and/or comments from both Microsemi and Texas Instuments in regards to what was said here.
To the reader: What companies have you dealt with with great application support? (Preferably not workplace experiences)