>> Picstart Plus at a Microchip seminar [...]  I see I need a newer
>> firmware (I have 1.01.00) . My choices are 1) Find a Microchip
>> distributer and order the upgrade for $19 (is it OTP or J/W?),

All of the Microchip supplied 17C44's in PICSTART Plus units that
I have seen are OTP parts. <sigh>

>> 2) Buy a 17C44J/W from Digi-Key, or 3) buy a OTP part

> I would get a windowed part and burn it with downloaded updates.

That's the approach I take.

I suggested to the Microchip people at this year's seminar (I was
at the San Diego one) to use _windowed_ 17C44s for firmware so it
could be reused.  They looked at me like I was crazy.  I got the
impression that they didn't think the firmware needed upgrades.

                                                Lee Jones