Most are pretty good - sometimes I hear people complaining about TI - their data sheets seem more like hard work.See the poll - feel free to comment on why!
The TI ones seem to have a sort of a typewriter font that takes more effort to read.The ones I'm most familiar with (Analog Devices, Linear Technology, Microchip, TI) all provide good data sheets, and I wouldn't single out any particular one as "best."
I've noticed that at times. Also, your comment about Microchip sometimes overdoing it resonated for me: I'm currently trying to wrap my brain around the dsPIC33EP64GP502, whose data sheet is 500+ pages long and only addresses the highlights; all the detailed info for the on-chip peripherals is in the Family Reference Manual, which has something over two thousand pages.The TI ones seem to have a sort of a typewriter font that takes more effort to read.
When I left my R&D Technician job in the early 80's, my boss told me to keep any of the databooks I wanted from my bench. I kept all of the National Semiconductor databooks and have read all of them, literally from cover to cover.National Semiconductor's application notes were excellent
Hi dl324,It occurs to me that a good, closely-related question would be, "Which manufacturers provide the most useful application information?" My favored candidates would be Linear Technology, Analog Devices and TI. National Semiconductor's application notes were excellent, too, before they got bought up by TI.
Compare these datasheets for the same part. Even though the TI and NatSemi datasheets contain basically the same information, TI's is 3X the size.Could you provide me some context on what makes them more useful?
Everyone has taken over everyone else - there's now very few distinctly separate semiconductor vendors.Compare these datasheets for the same part. Even though the TI and NatSemi datasheets contain basically the same information, TI's is 3X the size.