Stratix 2 ALUT architecture patented ?

[Irwin Kennedy]

Peter Alfke <peter@xilinx.com> wrote in message news:<BC65017B.3AC3%peter@xilinx.com>...

I have to agree with rickman ( in spite of his harsh wording)
The issue is not square millimeters, the issues are:
Capacity, performance, and price (and power, familiarity and software
support)

<snip>

I think we are just seeing things from different points of view. I was
just suggesting a better method for tool-flow+fabric comparison than
that used in the referenced Altera white paper. I agree that many
other variables will affect who gains more market share. (Perhaps this
is because not all that much separates the two solutions on a
tool-flow+fabric basis?)

<snip>

Thank God we are not (yet) selling FPGAs by the square millimeter.

And BMW, Lexus and Cadillac are still not selling their cars by the pound,
or even the cubic inch. And those products have more than a hundred-year
evolution behind them...

For fun I would argue that the FPGA customer is more discerning from
an engineering perspective than the car customer!