Can you use a surface mount chip one at a time?

Or must these things be 'installed' using a machine?

I'm thinking of myself as a hobbiest, building a prototype.

I just want to know if this can be done on a work bench


I'm assuming the surface mount stuff is much smaller and
more compact, this is their advantage right?

Thanks

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different
ways.  See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.