> But the F84 isn't the most basic flash PIC any more.

If I would select a cheap beginners PIC it would be the 16F630. Much
cheaper than a 16F84, use it with the internal oscillator and reset, and
it has only one pin less than a 16F84. Losing those 2 (resonator) or 4
(crystal) external components more than offsets that one pin.

But my real advice for a PIC beginner is to choose 18F (ease of
programming, advanced peripherals) and start with an 18F452, or choose
16F (downward migration to smaller, cheaper chips) and start with a
16F877A.

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products

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