>-----Original Message-----
>From: rrc124+@PITT.EDU [mailto:rrc124+@PITT.EDU]
>Sent: 24 June 2004 14:02
>To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: [OT]: Why PIC?
>
>
>I have a really stupid question to ask, but it's been
>bothering me for a while so I'll just ago ahead and ask it:
>
>Why is the PIC uC so popular?
>
>When I look at the specs of the competition, I see nothing but
>seemingly better products. Now I don't want everyone to get
>mad.. please. I'm simply a lowly computer science student who
>is still very new to this little hobby.. and I've only ever
>used PICs, so I really can't compare fairly. But the things I
>see are: AVRs and SXs are much faster w/MIPS, offer things
>such as lots of SRAM, etc.
>
>Are PICs cheaper? Is it because there are just so damn many to
>chose from? Is it because they are simpler to understand, so
>many engineers learned on them and still hold them dear? Is it
>because they have such a huge base of code/developers already
>and the momentum keeps them going? I guess the main thing I
>see is that these other uC's have such an awesome MIPS
>advantage... so why not use them? Are they more expensive?
>
>I don't know why I'm asking this because the answer is
>probably a combination of all of the above. But I keep
>wondering if there is one huge advantage that I'm not seeing.
>Anyway, just a thought.

The PIC's were there way before the competition, so they had a lot of
installed units and a lot of people with experience of PIC by the time some
viable competition came along.  Also Microchip are very hobbiest friendly,
they supply samples, and basic programmers can be built for pennies.  Lots
of tools available, for Linux, MAC, DOS and Windows.  Easy to learn the
instruction set. It blows the standard 8051 out of the water in terms of
performance, which would have been on of it's competitor originaly.

The SX is effectively a fast PIC clone, but although it's fast in terms of
MIP's, it uses the older 14 bit instruction set.  The AVR is good, but Atmel
shot themselves in the foot a few years back by being unable to supply
enough devices into the market, leading to huge lead times.  People don't
forget those things very quickly.

Motorola have traditionaly never been interested in small quantity users,
samples were virtualy impossible to get unless you were an automotive
manufacturer or simmilar large quantity customer.  Better these days, and
very much alive and kicking for hobby robot controllers.

The rest of the devices are relatively new such as the Texas MPS430 and the
Cypress PSOC devices.  There isn't nearly as much information and code
samples availble on the net as the PIC.

Regards

Mike




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