# Bowie and The Brown Note

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2011-02-02
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 28
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-28-bowie-and-the-brown-noise/

## Summary

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the community excitement surrounding the 555 timer contest, with Jones sharing his experience using a vintage 1976 Signetics triple 555 chip. The conversation shifts to industry news, including Intel's $700 million loss due to a chipset bug, National Instruments' R&D hiring plans, and the business models behind free EDA tools from Analog Devices and Microchip. The episode also features a 'Workbench of the Week' segment showcasing hobbyist setups and a discussion on the viability of plastic transistors and laser PCB cutting.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=6) Introduction and 555 Contest Hype
- [1:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=68) Vintage Signetics 555 and Design Con
- [11:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=679) Workbench of the Week: William, Lawrence, and Mr. J
- [13:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=823) US Mail Nuking Rant and Crickets
- [28:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=1689) Plastic Transistors and Laser PCB Cutting
- [43:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=2629) Intel Chipset Bug and Quality Costs
- [55:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note#t=3301) EDA Tools: Analog Devices, Microchip, and TI

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Signetics (company)
- Intel (company)
- National Instruments (company)
- Analog Devices (company)
- Microchip (company)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- LPKF (tool)
- Heathkit (product)
- Philips (product)
- Fluke (product)
- Weller (product)
- LTspice (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 152: 555 Timer Extravaganza, EMF Chip Glitching 3 Ways, a Magnetic Mechanical Keyboard, and The Best Tricorder Ever](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-01-21-ep-152-555-timer-extravaganza-emf-chip-glitching-3-ways-a-magnetic-mechanical-ke) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 267: Metal Casting, Plasma Cutting, and a Spicy 555](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-04-19-ep-267-metal-casting-plasma-cutting-and-a-spicy-555) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [EP 372: Pop Tubers, Shifty Semiconductors, and Shelving Shelf Labels](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-06-05-ep-372-pop-tubers-shifty-semiconductors-and-shelving-shelf-labels) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [317: What Do You Mean by Disintegrated? (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-10-06-317-what-do-you-mean-by-disintegrated-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [033 - All Over the Place](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-04-27-033-all-over-the-place) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-02-02-bowie-and-the-brown-note. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.