In some threads recently I have read about microchip  no longer supporting
certain programmers.   I tried today to order a picstart 16B1 programmer from
Digikey,  they say part # is discontinued and refers to picstart plus, they
then enter that # and it refers to the 16B1.    I am new to this pic thing
and was looking forward to getting started now I am confused.  Is Digikey
getting messed up or is there something more sinister afoot?   Seriously
though I browsed microchips homepage 2 nights ago and down loaded a brochure
for the 16B1.
Does anyone out there know  what is happening?   Or do you know who I can
contact?

Thanks   Brian