ADSP-2181-based DSP

I'm wondering if anyone around here has experience with Analog System's EZ-Kit Lite based on the ADSP-2181. It's a pretty powerful DSP and it is bundled with VisualDSP++. And, ofcourse, it's very moddable so you can easily add AD/DA converters, MIDI-interfaces, etc, etc. There are already some guys doing awesome synthesis-stuff with it:

http://www.gweep.net/~shifty/ezkit/

The thing is ... this kit used to cost 90 bucks (excluding the flash memory) but recently the price has been raised to almost 300$. So.. does anyone know of a place that still sells them for the original price? I reckon you could do some sick, sick shit with this little processor!

I wish I knew how the hell this would work for me... I don't have a palm pilot... HOW DOES IT DO?

you don't need a palm to control it, you can program any interface you want for it.

it's just a processor, like the one in your PC right now. but it has a certain instruction set and compact-ness that makes it ideal for dedicated audio stuffs. it works on a tiny motherboard and its relatively easy to program C++ DSP code in..

you program it using a program called VisualDSP++ & a standard RS232 serial cable connected to the motherboard.

i was thinking of getting one of those processors and make a strange, self-sustaining, algorhythmically sound-generating drone-machine out of it.

i'd build a little midi interface in it, doepfer PE-style, and build a case with a few hands-on controls around it..

but now that the 2181 package costs over 300$, i'm not so sure anymore.. it used to cost 90 bucks for fucks sake! grr..