Alex Bogdan wrote:
>
....... I
> tried to find literature for beginners in PICs, but I could not find one.

The book, Easy Pic'N, has launched many developers and hobbyists.

> Recently I found your WEB page and was amazed how well developed this
> topic is! But I still don't know were to start! (I have "0" knowledge in
> microprocessors).

Prior to Easy Pic'N, consider reading an 'intro to microcontrollers and
applications' book, either a university text or one of the Osborne or
Sams publications.

 That's why I decided to write you and ask for your
> HELP. I have required budget to purchase necessary literature,
> programmers, emulators, components etc. as long as I understand  what is
> needed and where is the shortest path to the knowledge of  PIC's
> practical implementations. I also don't quite understand the difference
> between PICs and BASIC STAMPs.

The Stamps and similar products incorporate various PIC microcontrollers
and reprogrammable memories.  The permanent memory in the micro contains
a program that 'interprets' the contents of the reprogrammable memory as
a series of executable statements.  A program that runs on your PC
converts PICBASIC statements into the codes that are stored in the
reprogrammable memory of the Stamp.  Working with Stamps is incredibly
easy, and you can incorporate the chips into production products if your
product is not too  cost sensitive and the operating speed requirements
are not too great.

 Is it possible to start programming and
> modelling with BASIC STAMPs and then translate the code to PIC
> microprocessor for the cost reduction? (As I understood so far, PICs are
> cheaper but more difficult to programm).

Yes.  One way to do this is with the Micromint PICBASIC compiler.


 Any way, I have a million
> questions and great desire to learn and implement PICs in our products!
> Please HELP me to start!

Have a look at these:

http://www.parallaxinc.com
http://www.microchip.com



>
> P.S. I hope you did not have much trouble with my English.
>
> Alex Bogdan, PhD
> Lumion Corporation
> Vice-President
> 4101 Weston Road,
> WESTON (TORONTO),
> ONTARIO, CANADA
> M9L 1W6
> Office Tel. (416) 745-6178 ext.231
> Office Fax. (416) 745-9935
> Remote Lab: (905) 951-3632
> Remote Lab Fax: (905) 951-1777
> e-mail: lumion@passport.ca
> home e-mail: abogdan@passport.ca

--

Paul Mathews, consulting engineer
AEngineering Co.
optoeng@whidbey.com
non-contact sensing and optoelectronics specialists