This seems like a good time to ask for comments on the following: This is
what I tell people when they ask about LOW COST routes to getting in to
embedded controllers:

Current lowest cost entry points:

Atmel AT89S series In Circuit Programmable 8051 clones:
http://www.atmel.com under $10.00
for uProcessor
http://www.ied.pios.com/catalog/pio_Catalog.asp?firstTime=true&From=IED-CATA
LOG&sNewlink=&part_number=at89s&matchtype=PN&pnmatch=any&mfg_code=%25
http://www.marshall.com/dynamic/search?search=AT89S&type=mpart&bl=or&result_
option=quick&mfr=ATM
, PC Parallel Port programming cable
http://www.ustr.net/files/at89s8252a.gif
, software
http://www.ustr.net/files/ispdos.zip
, and SIM
ftp://www.atmel.com/pub/atmel/sim51eng.zip
 Many free 8051 compilers, etc. available.
(Downside: NO ICE, NO IDE, 4 uP's, single source, 2 MIPS)

MicroChip Technologies PIC:
http://www.microchip.com $50 to $100 for
any of hundreds of uControllers
http://www.ied.pios.com/catalog/pio_Catalog.asp?firstTime=true&From=IED-CATA
LOG&part_number=PIC&matchtype=PN&pnmatch=any&mfg_code=%27MCH%27
, and Programmers
http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/3544/devprogs.htm
, from many soureces w/ Free IDE
http://www.microchip.com/10/Tools/picmicro/devenv/mplabi/index.htm
(Downside: NO ICE, 2 to 10 MIPS)

OR

MicroChip Technologies 16F8xx PICs:
http://www.microchip.com under $200 for
 uController
http://www.ied.pios.com/catalog/pio_Catalog.asp?firstTime=true&From=IED-CATA
LOG&mfrSubmit=True&part_number=PIC16F8&submit=+Find+&matchtype=PN&pnmatch=an
y&mfg_code=%27MCH%27&nPerPage=25
, Free IDE
http://www.microchip.com/10/Tools/picmicro/devenv/mplabi/index.htm
, programmer and ICE
http://www.microchip.com/10/Tools/picmicro/icds/MPLABICD/index.htm
http://www.ied.pios.com/catalog/PartDetail.asp?part_number=DV164001&mfg_code
=MCH&sSearchID=969641&firstTime=True
(Downside: 4 uP's, 2 to 10 MIPS, single source?, parts not in production as
of 1999/09/09 despite web site reference to being in-production, FAE
reported to say production pushed out to Q1 2000)


Scenix SX series ISP PIC clone:
http://www.scenix.com under $200 for
 50 MIPS uController, PC Serial Port programming and ICE adapter with true
ICE (emulation circuitry built into the production chips so what the
emulator sees is what the uP saw!) and IDE
http://www.parallaxinc.com/order/order.htm
http://www.parallaxinc.com/sx/sx.htm
(Downside: a few uP's, single source)

Atmel AT90S (AVR) series RISC processors:
http://www.atmel.com about $250 for
 uProcessor,
http://www.ied.pios.com/catalog/pio_Catalog.asp?firstTime=true&From=IED-CATA
LOG&mfrSubmit=True&part_number=AT90S&submit=+Find+&matchtype=PN&pnmatch=any&
mfg_code=%25&nPerPage=25
http://www.marshall.com/dynamic/search?search=AT90S&type=mpart&bl=or&result_
option=quick&mfr=ATM
, ICE
http://www.marshall.com/dynamic/pdpage?m=atm&p=ATICE200-
, Free IDE
ftp://www.atmel.com/pub/atmel/astudio.exe
(Downside: Cost, 4 to 8 MIPS, single source?)

James Newton, webmaster http://get.to/techref
(hint: you can add your own private info to the techref)
mailto:jamesnewton@geocities.com
1-619-652-0593 phoneÊ



-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Erik Reikes
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 1:36 PM
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: MChip F___ Up!


I just called my Microchip FAE and got some interesting news.  Supposedly
all production of the 16F8xx series has been pushed out 16-18weeks.
According to my calender that is 4 months, or Q1 2000.  On their web site
it says in production.

3 weeks ago they tell me 2 weeks for samples.  Now they tell me 4 months.
Guess its time to switch architectures.  They have got some serious
customer relations problems.

-E