>>
>> I am mainly interested in programming the PIC18F4550 and for this i
>> ordered an Pickit 2. I need jal to start making some small programs
>> for PIC and learn from them the asm (at least this is what i 
>> think :-) ).

CXF> Now we should go back to the OP's question.

CXF> I think it is a very good choice to order a PICkit 2. 

CXF> There is nothing wrong to start with 18F though. However 18F4550
CXF> may be a bit too much and a smaller PIC 18F may be a better option.
CXF> If you are interested in USB, then 18F2550/4550 will still be the
CXF> good choice.

Thank you all for you answers.
Is a lot of work to learn asm for pics after you got used to x86 for a
loooong time like i am. There are a few things that are not that
simple to remember and this is why i wanted to start using JAL or C.
JAL was the first one that came to my mind because i have a book in
romanian which has a lot of examples written in JAL but for 16Fs.
Now i downloaded C18 (student edition :-) ) and i started implementing
a few simple programs. The 4550 model i was talking about is what i
have from 18F family and i was planning to start with that. I will not
do USB for sure for another couple of months.

>> Do you have some other suggestions for me as a beginner ? Should i use
>> a C compiler instead of JAL ? I tried to use one once but because of
>> the lack of examples i dropped it.
>> 

CXF> I guess ASM is better for a small PIC and MPLAB C18 will be better
CXF> if you want to use 18F4550. Still some basic knowledge in
CXF> PIC assembly is still very much required. You'd better start
CXF> with some reading of the datasheets and trying out some
CXF> simple things (blinking an LED, etc) before you jump to
CXF> USB which is really quite tough.

I have everything now at my fingers : ICD2 (olimex clone) as a
programmer until pickit2 will come and as a debugger, PIC18F4550,
MPLAB, C18 and a few proto boards i can play with. I will try to make
a few simple programs and follow the asm source code along after i
compile with C18.

CXF> I do not know much about JAL though and I can only guess it 
CXF> will not be a very good choice for 18F4550.

Yes, i am sure now that C is a much better sollution.
Thank you guys, you have helped me a lot. I will post messages if i
will be stuck in my quest and i will hope that you will try to help me
like you helped me now.
PICs are really usefull devices...

CXF> Regards,
CXF> Xiaofan

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