Jason S wrote :

> I'm working on a project that will need a couple of inputs
> and around 16 outputs.  The outputs will change at a few
> hertz at the fastest.  Is it a better design to use an 8-pin
> PIC and send the outputs serially to a couple of shift
> registers or a 28 pin PIC and use the outputs directly.

Small series (like 1->10->100) : use simplest programming.

Large series (maybe from about 1.000 units ??) : focus more on
component cost...

It sounds as you are doing a single unit project ?
If so, use a 28-pin PIC.

>
> It seems like the shift register solution is better design
> because it just feels wrong to waste so many IO pins...

And instead wasting time on more complicated programming ?

But anyway, without knowing the number of units planned,
it's close to impossible to answer I'd guess...

Jan-Erik.

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