> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu 
> [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Wouter van Ooijen
>Andre Abelian wrote:
>> what's wrong with picstart+ programmer?
>> 1. Life time warranty
>> 2. firmware update is available on time

The updates is not as fast as MPLAB ICD2. It takes them
quite some time to support 18F2550/4550 USB PIC for the PS+.

>> 3. programs almost all pics
Not yet the dsPICs. MPLAB ICD2 supports dsPICs.

>> 4. has case
>> 5. excellent tech support
>> 6. maybe more

I've never used the PS+ even though I've seen people using it
and like it very much. So I think it is a good choice but might
not be as good as MPLAB ICD2 which doubles as a debugger and
supports almost all Flash PICs. Anyway OTP PICs are not so
popular any more.

> I won't argue with the good points, but there are some wrongs too:
> 1. serial only, does not work well with USB
> 2. MPLAB only, no command line support

There is a command line program picp from Jeff Post under
Windows and Linux
http://home.pacbell.net/theposts/picmicro

> 3. (does not work on Linux - I am not sure)?

picp supports Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.

> 4. slow
> 5. not well suited to ISCP
> 

In my opinion, MPLAB ICD2 makes a better choice than PS+. If 
the price of the original ICD2 is too high then the clones can 
be considered. If the clones are still too high, then Microchip 
PICkit 2 or Wouter's Wisp628A can be considered.

Regards,
Xiaofan

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist