why EEPROM?

[mspohr]

Pardon my ignorance but why is EEPROM being offered as an optional extra goal?
Doesn't the device already have an EEPOM?
If not, how does it store programs?
I thought all Arduinos had an EEPROM.


After registering, why do I still have to type captchas and product?

[semicolo]

The original Arduino due processor doesn't have EEPROM (but cheaper Arduinos and the digispark do have some), it's probably the same chip used on the DigiX, so there's no EEPROM by default.

[digistump]

There is no EEPROM on the chip used in the DigiX or Due - there is flash which is where programs are stored (true of the original ARduinos as well - programs on flash, program data on EEPROM).


Captchas, etc are required for the first few posts - we get hit with lots of spam and measures like that seemed to have stopped it.

[Bluebie]

If you are careful, you can usually reprogram the flash memory in your AVR devices to store data also. The thing to it is that you usually have to erase pages, and those pages tend to be like 32 or even 512 bytes long or something like that. So it isn't like eeprom where you can erase and set a single byte. Flash also wears out quicker as you use it. And of course you need to be careful your program doesn't erase part of itself if you use flash!

[mspohr]

Thanks for all the responses.
I think I understand now... The processor has "flash" program memory but no way to store data (without odd gymnastics). The EEPROM adds the ability to store data.
I note that the DigiX also has the ability to plug in a micro memory card which I assume could also be used for data.

[mspohr]

Just to clarify... I seem to have had some crossed wires... I thought the DigiX had a micro SD socket but this must have been something else... I do see the Kickstarter page shows it hooked up to an external SD card so that is possible.

[digistump]

A microSD slot will be included on-board if we hit 100k (possibly if we don't, but for sure if we do). Since we've hit 75k the EEPROM will be on the board.