On Wed, 14 Jan 1998 12:21:42 +0300, you wrote:

>Hello all
>
>I am new on the list, and new to the PIC- We are soon starting a project
>using the PIC16c93 and therefore I am looking for some advice regarding :
>
>Purchase of a PIC programmer; We are currently looking at the PRO-MATE II
>from Microchip - are there any third-party programmers we should consider
>instead ? prisewise cheaper is better however support for the full serie of
>PIC's is essential.
PRO-Mate is quite expensive - you can probably find a programmer to do
PICS AND heaps of other devices for the same price.

>Reg the 16c93 with build in LCD driver ; Is the driver any good ?
I presume it works, although the data sheet isn't too clear on how low
you can get the power consumption. 
> and Can we drive a 20x4 char LCD on it ?
Not directly - it wont handle the high multiplex rates to drive a 20x4
char matrix glass direct. If you're talking about a 20 x 4 offf-the
shelf LCD module, all you need is 7 bits of normal I/O as these
modules have built in display controller and RAM, so almost any PIC
will do.  

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