If it's a programmable chip, the cost is even more.

Because it's a programmable chip, it can be used for a host of different operations.

But a new generation of programmable chips, faster and used in place of custom chips, could get around that problem.

But the circuits of programmable chips can be, in effect, rewired by software to convert them into special-purpose processors.

It is possible that some consumer products could eventually find extended lives through programmable chips.

To start with, the time it currently takes programmable chips to "rewire" themselves can lead to sluggish performance in some applications.

Researchers are already working on fully configurable computers, which would be completely based on programmable chips.

Dr. Athanas agreed that programmable chips were unlikely to become the engines of ordinary computers.

Some field programmable chips can be changed even after they are inside the finished product.

A. We have been buying Xlinx, which is the clear leader in programmable chips.