Rikard Bosnjakovic wrote:
> Greetings
>
> I'm a newcomer to this list (which was referenced from the
> usenet-group sci.electronics.basics) and after lurking around a bit
> reading the posts to it, it looks like this list is a collection of
> experts and experienced people.
>
> My humble apologies if this post contains questions of too low level
> for this list. The reason I'm writing to this mailing list is this:
> During the past two years I've been thinking of - but never got the
> grip  to - starting to learn how to use microcontrollers. For my next
> hobby project, it seems to be a necessity to learn so I thought now -
> once and for all - is The Time To Learn.
>
> The next project is going to be a something that looks and acts like a
> chess clock, with some few additions. While not completely impossible
> to do with a bunch of 555-timers and a lot of logic gates feeding some
> 7-digit LEDs, the system would probably be a messy harness real quick
> and blocks the ability for improvements. So I'm thinking a uC will
> take care of all the timing / scoring, and use some external chips
> (like a 7-LED decoder and the like) as helper chips.
>
> Now, so far so good in the planning, here's the real reason that's
> stopped me for learning microcontrollers: I have absolutely no idea
> where to start. Some people say "Go Atmel!", others say "Go PIC!",
> others say "Go Foo!".
>
> I have googled around for tutorials, beginners' pages, introduction to
> / comparison between Atmel/PIC and simliar pages, I've seen plenty of
> "starter kits" every here and there, some way more expensive than
> others making me confused of which to buy, so I still don't know where
> to put my foot.
>
> I have 20+ years (software) programming experience. Around 1990-95 I
> programmed system assembler for the MC68000, meaning I have atleast
> some of the required skills. I think.
>
> So, considering the next project of mine and my background, which kind
> of uC might be good enough for me? Or atleast for starting out in the
> area, somewhere to put my feet and get the LED flashing.
>
>
>   
Probably the easiest in terms of toolchain and all that other stuff
would be a PIC and JAL.
A 16F877A or something for the micro and perhaps a pickit2 usb
programmer from microchip.
you can be flashing a LED inside an hour (especially with the "flash a
led" page from wouter (i think))


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