> Very simple:  Allow me to disable ICSP reads no matter what, and allow me
to
> disable internal reads of the flash memory, but allow internal flash to be
> re-written.  So simple, they've done it now with the 77A and 18F series.
> And left me holding the bag with the miserable 77 for at least the next
half
> of a year.

I agree that what you describe is a better protection strategy than what is
in the 16F877.  However, that's not what Microchip did.  Perhaps the other
way would have cost more, delayed the product, or they just missed that
point and they were willing to walk away from the small segment of the
market that:

1 - Cares about code protection.

AND

2 - Wants customers to field-upgrade firmware via an internal uploader.

You can argue that Microchip made a bad choice, but you can't blame your
predicament on them because the F877 does work as documented.  In other
words this part doesn't suite your needs, and YOU therefore shouldn't have
picked it.  Or if after doing a competitive search discovered that the F877
was still the best choice, live with the restrictions.

> Face it, I'm screwed.

Yup, I guess so.  Can we stop hearing about this now unless you've got NEW
information to inform us of?


********************************************************************
Olin Lathrop, embedded systems consultant in Littleton Massachusetts
(978) 742-9014, olin@embedinc.com, http://www.embedinc.com

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