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I can't put my finger on it, but there was something more accessible when you had a physical catalog in your hand. I am not knocking modern online catalogs, whi

I can't put my finger on it, but there was something more accessible when you had a physical catalog in your hand. I am not knocking modern online catalogs, which are great when you know what you want. Take Digikey, for example, often I don't know exactly what I want, but only roughly. It was so quick to just flip through the pages in the correct section of the catalog and zero in on it. The search features we have on Digikey's website today are excellent, but I can't help but feel they are still a little slow in many circumstances. Maybe it is just my age. EDIT grammar and a missing phrase.

detourdog 2y ago
I think the knowledge that the catalog was complete. When researching on the internet one never knows how thorough one’s research is.
analog31 2y ago
I echo this experience. Also, thumbing through the catalog, you built a mental library of parts, so you could visualize an idea for a circuit or gadget. Same with "reading" the IC databooks. A drawback was that the Radio Shack catalog was curated, and therefore, outdated. That's where Digi-Key and others (RS Electronics, McMaster-Carr) were eye-opening. Today the Digi-Key catalog would be a foot thick.
- seoulbigchris 2y ago
  > Also, thumbing through the catalog, you built a mental library of parts, so you could visualize an idea for a circuit or gadget. I can completely relate to this. Even decades later, I can remember seeing a particular part in the catalog, and even roughly what section it was in. But I don't know how to search for it using the online tools.
  - analog31 2y ago
    I often start with plain old Google, and I might try an AI chatbot these days. You need something to grab onto, and the electronics-specific tools won't tell you unless you already know. Google often provides a decent search into Mouser or Digi-Key if you include those names in the search phrase. Once you find a "close" part, then you can see what category the supplier has put it into, and then you've probably cracked it. Oddly enough, this week I found a part I was looking for at the WalMart website, and it had a picture with a part number, which enabled me to find it at the more mainstream suppliers.
    - fragmede 2y ago
      Right. Google and Octopart are great if you already know what you want, but for "I want a thingy that does...", ChatGPT is quite useful.
- HeyLaughingBoy 2y ago
  > Today the Digi-Key catalog would be a foot thick At least. The last one I remember them sending me about 10 years ago was already almost 3" thick.

detourdog 2y ago

I think the knowledge that the catalog was complete. When researching on the internet one never knows how thorough one’s research is.

analog31 2y ago

I echo this experience. Also, thumbing through the catalog, you built a mental library of parts, so you could visualize an idea for a circuit or gadget. Same with "reading" the IC databooks. A drawback was that the Radio Shack catalog was curated, and therefore, outdated. That's where Digi-Key and others (RS Electronics, McMaster-Carr) were eye-opening. Today the Digi-Key catalog would be a foot thick.

seoulbigchris 2y ago
> Also, thumbing through the catalog, you built a mental library of parts, so you could visualize an idea for a circuit or gadget. I can completely relate to this. Even decades later, I can remember seeing a particular part in the catalog, and even roughly what section it was in. But I don't know how to search for it using the online tools.
- analog31 2y ago
  I often start with plain old Google, and I might try an AI chatbot these days. You need something to grab onto, and the electronics-specific tools won't tell you unless you already know. Google often provides a decent search into Mouser or Digi-Key if you include those names in the search phrase. Once you find a "close" part, then you can see what category the supplier has put it into, and then you've probably cracked it. Oddly enough, this week I found a part I was looking for at the WalMart website, and it had a picture with a part number, which enabled me to find it at the more mainstream suppliers.
  - fragmede 2y ago
    Right. Google and Octopart are great if you already know what you want, but for "I want a thingy that does...", ChatGPT is quite useful.
HeyLaughingBoy 2y ago
> Today the Digi-Key catalog would be a foot thick At least. The last one I remember them sending me about 10 years ago was already almost 3" thick.