On Fri, 26 Feb 1999 15:04:12 +1100 PJH writes: >I mean, there's no "GOTCHA" with >the windowed "JW" type and >plastic-DIP versions is there? If >I spend a bundle for new 54's & >57's, the programmes I wrote >previously to run the windowed >chips will run on the plain ones? > >And I can dump the old programmes, >unmodified, into the plain chips >using the PICSTART+ instead of the >now defunct PICSTART-16B? > The plain chips are electrically exactly the same as the windowed ones, same chip inside but no window. The only time the window is necessary is if you want to erase and reuse the chip. If you are just making more systems with the same proven old code, plastic chips are fine. If you want to modify and debug the code, buy a few windowed ones to use during testing. The PICSTART Plus will program them just fine. You can use the same .HEX files that were used with the 16B1 and the programmed chips will be identical. Just make sure to double-check the fuse settings. That's the major gotcha. I think with the 5X chips they now only have "A" versions, which don't have the oscillator type pre-programmed like the original ones were. ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]