Hi Folks,

I've been off this discussion for a week because of work and I have been
pushing to fix two tough problems in BASIC87x (they'll both be fixed in
Version 0.83, which I will put up on my web page tomorrow).  I got
re-introduced to my MPLAB-ICD over the past two days which makes me rethink
my comments dismissing free ICD and bootloaders.

Now, I just wish MPLAB-ICD just wasn't so bloody slow!


Reading through the comments over the past week, it doesn't sound like there
is any kind of consensus as yet to what the PBK is going to be.  With the
"Executive Overview", it looks like there are some general statements that
people are willing to agree to.


To take some of the contention out of the process, I'm proposing that people
reply to me (myke@passport.ca) directly, answering the following questions:

1.  What PICmicro MCU part numbers did you learn on?  What do you recommend
to others to learn on?


2.  What type of PC do you have?  (Processor, Speed, (S)DRAM, Operating
System)


3.  Do you have any free Parallel Ports on your PC?  If so, which type (ie
Motherboard/PCI/ISA/USB and SPP/EPP/...)?


4.  Do you have any free Serial Ports on your PC?  If so, are any of them
driven by USB?


5.  Is your PC capable of using USB ports?  (Operating systems that can do
this are: Windows/98, Windows/Me, Windows/2000, Windows/XP, Mac, Linux
(Redhat 7.1+))


6.  What type of programmer do you use now?


7.  What is the development system that you use?


8.  What language do you write your applications in?


9.  Do you use MPLAB-ICD or an Emulator?


10.  How did you learn to develop PICmicro MCU applications?  For example:
      - Reading manuals thoroughly, trying out applications on the
simulator, finally doing applications
      - Trying to design my own applications and getting background material
to do the job
      - Trying to build other people's applications that you found on the
Internet




I have tried to avoid asking opinions, instead, I'm trying to find out what
people are actually using and what they use to help make the decision.  What
I'm hoping to find are answers that will allow us to start making some
concrete decisions based on the user base out there.

Please reply directly to me (and not the PICList) and I will summarize the
information as I get it.  I hope that both lurkers as well as regulars reply
so that the votes don't get too skewed artificially.

myke

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