Brendan,

   I cannot fully agree with you:
=20
> > PIC18F242-I/P is about $4 retail here in Ukraine.
> > PIC16F628-20I/P is about $2.5 retail here in Ukraine.
>=20
> $1.50 in batches of 25 works out to $37.50.  Not so=20
> insignificant if you need several.

When the fellow, who posted the message  finished his=20
study, the difference will be different, probably negative.

>=20
> >    Extra $1.5 is not a big problem, particularly taking into
> > account that when this fellow finished his study, 16FXXX
> > line would be very probably considered obsolete, like
> > 16F84 now.
>=20
> There are still many 16FXXX that are being developed.  Would=20
> Microchip still develop more of them if they were completely obsolete?

I also wonder: Why Microchip did, does and probably will do=20
so many stupid things, being not fully kicked off the market?

> >    As for me, for new PIC-members generation should be
> > recomended new(?) 18FXXX generation of PIC-chips.
> > Memory space, speed, better different command set and
> > so on.
>=20
> Find me an 18FXXX chip with 8 pins.  They can't replace the=20
> 12C5XX series, and due to their larger and more complex=20
>instruction set, they cannot replace the 16FXXX

Why 18FXXX cannot replace the 16FXXX due to their larger=20
and more complex instruction set? Atmel AVR, TI MSP430=20
and others replaced them in dramatic manner just for this=20
reason. With no 18FXXX in small pin-number packages =20
Microchip will definitely be bitten to death. Look at AVR tiny=20
for example.

   I was wrong in some my last postings, so I apologize in=20
advance if I've missed something.

   Mike.

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