Comment by rcxdude
9 hours ago
In fact, unless ubiquity in availability is a really core part of the design requirement, they almost certainly aren't the right part for the job.
9 hours ago
In fact, unless ubiquity in availability is a really core part of the design requirement, they almost certainly aren't the right part for the job.
Most parts in most designs aren't anywhere close to being specification-critical. Specifying the 3904 is a great way to say "I need an NPN transistor here, and it doesn't really matter which one" (because, oh man, they can ship a lot of different things in that "3904" bin spec, and they do). So the "jellybeans" are often ideal choices.
When they are not, that is when the design engineer earns their pay.