Re: Apple ][ to VGA monitor adapter board - looking for best color decoding method

["josephoswald+gg@gmail.com" <josephoswald@gmail.com>]

On Apr 8, 6:32 pm, ferd...@gmx.de wrote:

> I'm just wondering how to continue. I might finish the PCB layout
> tomorrow, so I need to decide whether I make a prototype on my own -
> which is a lot of work (566 pads/204 vias) to be done or if I decide
> to let some guys make the PCB. But a 268mm x80mm is going to be
> expensive in prototype volumes (i.e. 1 or 2). It seems that PCBs are
> way cheaper in the US than in Europe...why? I might actually let them
> make in the US and ship them here.

Olimex might be an option.

Some things that might explain the cost difference

1) Dollar-euro exchange rate right now makes dollar prices look
cheaper to Europeans

2) European PCB vendors probably have more costs associated with RoHS
and EU environmental directives, either because of direct regulation
on them or because their customer base insists on processes that are
more expensive so that the customers can stay compliant

3) There might be different markets and business models involved: the
cheap proto PCB vendors have processes designed to combine completely
different orders and boards into large panels using standard processes
which allows for economical fabrication. However, they have to have an
efficient and reliable system in place to make sure that orders can be
uncombined afterward! European vendors might not have invested in
similar production schemes.