I'm almost 23. I started using PIC's about 3 years ago after designing a
remote car start for my car using digital logic and analog ICs (15 in all). I
never attempted to build it thinking there must be a better way. Now its done
using 1 PIC. I haven't used a 555 or inverter gate since.
        I'm half way through the Navy's Nuclear Power school. We went through a
digital class learning the 8080 inside and out. Wow! All I could think of was
how much faster my HP48 was. Oh well, after that jumped straight to a the
VMEbus mastered by 133 Pentiums. What a change. The Navy's replacing about 150
cabinets on board ships with a single VBEbus rack for the reactor safety
systems.
Matt B.