Wouter's note below is great advice.
For anybody starting out, check out
http://www.elproducts.com
We have bootloader packages, in-circuit programming modules (zipper)
and even Basic Stamp replacement modules.

Our bootloader board on the serial port, EPIC programmer on the
parallel port, and your favorite compiler or assembler running in a
windows editor (such as the free MCstudio) on the PC makes for a great
development package.

--- wouter van ooijen & floortje hanneman <wf@XS4ALL.NL> wrote:

> So what to choose after all this information? If you just want to
> start
> experimenting with PICs I would suggest to buy a 16F877, build one of
> the
> very simple serial-port HVP programmers that can be found
> piclist/techref
> and load a bootloader in the PIC, and from then on forget the HVP
> programmer
> (you could have build it on a solderless breadboard) and just use the
> bootloader. When and F877 is not available I guess the F628 is not
> available
> either, and the F84 is possible the only thing you can buy. Now you
> can
> either buy one, build a HVP programmer and use it (I strongly suggest
> that
> you select a programmer than can do ICSP), or buy two, build a simple
> HVP
> programmer to program one for my WISP design and use the other as
> target.
>
> When you want to do serious development work with PICs I suggest you
> buy a
> PicStartPlus or another programmer that can be updated for new PICs.
> When
> you want to do production programming (as opssosed to hobby work)
> select a
> programmer (for your choosen target chip, or maybe for the whole PIC
> range)
> that is advertised as "production" programmer.
>
> Wouter


=====
Chuck Hellebuyck
Electronic Products
chuck@elproducts.com
*****Program PICs Like a Pro*********
Complete package for only $279.95
Includes: PBPro Compiler, EPIC Programmer, 16F84 PIC, Cable & Batteries
http://www.elproducts.com

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