Vitaliy wrote:

>> Given that the selection of the mid-range PIC is not going to change and
>> remembering that this is an introductory course (no more than 16 weeks,
>> 3-4 hours per week, including lab time), which mid-range PIC would you
>> selct, and why?
> 
> I would go with the 18F family. Because they're better than the 16F. :)

I second this. The 18F family is fairly similar to the 16F family, so being
familiar with it will help if one has to work later with a 16F, but it is
easier to work with. Unless there are specific project constraints (money,
space, current consumption) that require something that's not available as
18F, there's IMO no reason not to use an 18F. I don't think that there are
many intro projects that have such constraints.

>> Our primary goal is the give these youngsters an introductory course
>> that will pique (no pun intended) their interest in the world of
>> microcontrollers enough to get them to think about pursuing the
>> possibities in EE or EET degree programs.
> 
> The good thing about 18Fs is that they come with a free C compiler and 
> libraries. You can do a lot in a short period of time.

There are also free C compilers available for the 16F series. I think MPLAB
now comes with a limited CCS version, and Hi-Tech has also a limited free C
compiler. Besides C, though, there are other free alternatives.

However and FWIW, if "piquing" their interest is the goal, I found the 8051
architecture easier to work with, from the viewpoint of someone familiar
with basic (PC) programming and general processor architecture background.
Especially the way a C compiler works is much more similar to the (often
more familiar) PC world.

Gerhard

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