[TriLUG] OT: local source for logic ICs?

[matt at noway2.thruhere.net]

> On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 2:28 PM, Robert Dale <robdale at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 2:18 PM, <matt at noway2.thruhere.net> wrote:
>
>>> I hate to say it, but hobby electronics has died.
>
> Like someone else in this thread has mentioned, I completely disagree.
> I think it's alive and thriving. All local mom and pops are suffering
> because of the internet. I used to spend hours browsing music in
> small, local record shops when I was younger. None of those exist
> anymore but I can now access that exact same music and tons more
> online.
Interesting.  I agree completely that retail has been killed by the online
vendors, but my impression on the subject goes a lot deeper than that.

You simply don't see much mention or activity of it being alive and well. 
I figured a lot of that had to do with the way component technology has
changed and moved away from the larger PTH (plated through hole)
components and towards SMT (surface mount) and even worse IC packages that
require expensive and specialized equipment.  The change being not only
driven by size but by the electromagnetic principles associated with
high(er) signal speeds.

As one whose background is EE and who until recently worked in electronic
hardware and embedded software design, in other words, I consider myself
someone who had their finger on the pulse of the industry, for all
practical purposes it appears / appeared to have faded into oblivion as a
cottage industry.

Apparently, I am not alone in that impression, as I've asked coworkers
about this in response to this thread and they too have the impression it
has died.