At 10:59 PM 10/7/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Ok, I am looking into the world of electronics and I really like doing
>this sort of stuff.  Let me warn you...I'm only 16 ... and I found some good
>stuff at ITU technologies, one of them being a "Warp 3" programmer that
>claims to program everything (for around $130) and a less expensive one

Greetings!

Good to see a youngster getting into this world.  Yes, I think a PIC
programmer would be your next step.  Chris at ITU Tech. is great to work
with, and the WARP 3 a very good machine.  However, being as you are young
(and I presume on a very limited budget), I don't think Chris will mind if I
mention to you that right now Microchip is selling the PICStart Plus
programmer, which covers most all devices, for only $149(from memory) 'till
the end of December.  Check http://www.microchip.com for more details.  I
would recommend using the PIC 16C84 for initial designs - it has built-in
electrically erasable memory so you won't need an ultraviolet eraser.  Also,
I might mention that there are several dirt-cheap programmers on the
internet.  But the Warp 3 or PICStart Plus would be worth the investment, I
feel.  A large range of devices are supported, and they work very reliably.
Also make sure to download a copy of MP-Lab from Microchip's web site - it
is a complete Integrated Development Environment.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

-Todd Peterson

E-Lab Digital Engineering, Inc.
  "Embedded Control & Integrated Circuit Solutions"

EDE300 IC -  Stamp I/O Expander & PC Interface IC
EDE700 IC -  Serial to LCD Interface IC
EDE1200 IC - Stepper Motor Controller
EDE1400 IC - Serial to Parallel-Printer IC

http://www.netins.net/showcase/elab