Universal Programmer- Leaper-56

                                (Small and light (282 g only ) Universal Programmer- Leaper-56)

  An universal IC programmer is a programmer that can support wide variety of devices. It is suit for development projects and low volume production for an engineer.
But when a engineer want to buy a programmer, what is the priority?  Is the price? Or is the support device lists? The programming speed ? Software or the customer service?
  This is also a question I ask myself. Because I am response to the developing countries, which means they don't have too much budget to buy high level programmers. Some of them just told me they started to use some cheap programmers from China. I was so frustrated by the low price they expect at first. So I did a little research about these so call low price programmers from China, and can't help but laughing.

 "it is kind of like a niceish device but really rather crap

 The snag with this programmer is the software. It is horrific. Simple as that. This peace of s*it must be one of the worst pieces of code ever produced and the support is non existent.

The main problem I've had was getting the right version of the software and getting their USB driver to work. It is totally unpredictable if it will work or not. I've spent dozens of hours installing and uninstalling the software. One day it works on one PC the next it doesn't but now works on the notebook which it didn't like previously. "

This is a user's feedback from eevblog. So apparently,  price can not be the only factor for the end user.   Who want to buy a programmer that can not be worked normally, even with the lowest price ? And that's why leap not only survive but also thrive more than 30 years.

So here are the 4 factors that I think is the most important for the users, and I am going to take our universal programmer Leaper-56 for example.

1. Price
2. Quality
3. Programming  Speed
4. Service 

1. Price:
 In fact, I think we all agree it is impossible to buy a high quality product with very low price. It is possible to buy it with a reasonable price. This is Leap's IC programmers, we won't set a high price that customers can not afford. On the contrary, our list prices are lower than other famous brands. We may not famous as Xiltek , Elnec, Data-IO...etc. But our programmers are also used by some large companies around the world . For example, Foxconn and Calcomp. They are using our models for the mass production.( However, due to our company rule, I can't list the price here. But I am willing to tell you by mails.)

2. Quality:
  It seems complicated to define quality. First, I suppose users want a product that can work for a long time without any problem. In fact, I don't know this is our programmers' feature till I get many inquires from the end users.  Some of them will ask " Can you add this IC on SU-2000? " I have to admit I am impressive because this product is phased out for almost 15 years! So it means our programmers work normally for 15 years.  Well, I won't surprise if a electrical fan works for more than 10 years. But for this high level electrical product, it is impressive. Second, the software of the programmer. I think the software has to be easy to use and operate smoothly . This is not something that can be described, so I just attached some pictures below:
                                                 
                                               (The procedure of using Leaper-56)

                                  1.Select device, quick search device database

                                2. Load the working file

                                  

                                 

                                 3. Click ALL RUN to finish the programming

Is it user friendly enough ? Most important of all, it works well all the time.


3. Programming speed: 

  If you ask me the most advantage of our programmer, it is definitely the programming speed. In fact, the FAE in MXIC once told me that"Sometimes I doubt when it finishes programming, I thought it is not complete because it is too fast."  Time is Money, so the faster the programming speed is, the more time can be saved.   They even push Leaper-56 to the limit. For example, Leaper-56's signal pin drive bandwidth is 75 MHz. That's fast enough, we thought.  But they test it and find that it can run to 110 MHz!  
 For this, we also have some comparison chart of the programming speed :

As you can see, Leaper-56 is the fastest programmer of Leap now. And if you read the data carefully, you will find out the differences of the speed are huge.

I mean, how much time you can save if you use Leaper-56?


4. Service:
  For all factors of a good IC programmer, service is the most important but less to be mentioned. Most of manufactures just want to let you know how good the product is.(Something like support more than "a huge number" devices, or can program all variety of the devices.) But what if the customers meet some problems?

  In my opinion, service includes updating the IC,debugging the problem and instruction of the product.
 As I know, few manufactures charge fee for updating devices. I admire their courage but I think this kind of service should be free. Leap won't charge any fee for updating the programmers.(Of course, do not ask us to update the phased out products. ) Then what about debugging problems? Should it supposed to happen?
This is something you won't know before buying a product, and I think this is why people intend to choose the famous brands to avoid risk. To be honest, even the most famous product needs debugging sometimes.

In Leap, we sometimes debug and revised the driver for certain part number. It only takes one or two days the most, and the problem can be solved. But the SW and Hardware are always works well in few years. We always solve the problems promptly because this is the way we show respect to our customers.


So if you unfortunately spend a low price to buy a cheap programmer, you may find out that it can't even work, or it may take you half a hour to program one device. And the service doesn't exit. Basically you just throw your money to the garbage can.

If you spend the reasonable or a little bit high budge to buy a  programmer from a famous brand. I suppose it can work well, and with not slow programming speed. The service system exist, but you may wait for awhile till the problems solved  because there are just too many inquiries from end users.

If you fortunately buy Leap's programmer, you will spend a reasonable budget. It can work well and with a tremendous high programming speed.  The service is sound and quick. (If you have any questions, please just contact with me. overseas@leap.com.tw I will definitely reply you ASAP.)   

So why not give Leap a shot? 

  As a sales coordinator, I enjoy knowing people from the whole world. So I willing to answer any question of our products or anything else. If you contact with me, you can know more than Leap, you can know a man and his country Taiwan, of course, if you willing to. Though work is tough and dull the most of time, but I always cherish the opportunity to associate with and serve different people.  
  Maybe you will consider to arrange a travel in Taiwan on your next vacation, and I can definitely introduce you the best part of our country.