In SX Microcontrollers, SX/B Compiler and SX-Key Tool, johncouture wrote:

Rich,

I have used both and the Picaxe chips are fun.  The 08M is cute because you can generate tones with it.  A couple of things to consider:

Picaxe
-- does not have interrupts, the SX handles them without breaking a sweat
-- subroutines are simple gosub and return, no parameter passing, no return parameters. 
-- some built in IR commands for responding to a TV remote (for example). 
-- some built in commands for controlling a keyboard with only a couple of connections. 
-- the readadc10 command allows reading of an analog value (10 bit resolution). 
-- it has built in 1-Wire (microlan) commands - handy because with the SX you have to jump through a couple of hoops for this.
-- baud rate is limited to 4800 (or 19.2K if using a 16mhz resonator).  The SX, as you see in most programs on this list, run about 38K baud even with a 4mhz resonator.  Thus, your power consumption would be less on the SX because it is running at a slower speed.  That would be important in a battery operated device.

I'm sure there are many more differences, but again, it depends on the application.  This forum, for example, seems a lot more knowledgeable about electronics and seems to have a lot more professional electronics designers.  The Picaxe forum is much smaller and has a lot of dedicated people but most of them are in it for the hobby.

My first chip was the BS2, then I went to the Picaxe then I went to the SX.  BS2 is an excellent learning tool (great manuals) but too expensive per copy.  The Picaxe only has a couple of manuals and I think there is only one commercial book on the chip (by Lincoln).  Graduating to the SX was like steping into a stadium of possibilities for me and I am still having fun with it.  The Propeller is out of my league for now (my SINGLE processors get out of control enough, I can't imagine what it would be like to have EIGHT processors running around doing their own thing!).

If you are just starting out , get the BS2 kit and work through the "What's a microcontroller" book then start collecting all of the books you can find on the BS2.  Each one has a morsel of information that you can use.  That is the one thing that no other chip on the market can beat Parallax at.  The BS2 is used in more university classrooms simply because it is the easiest to get students up to speed on and resources, for the most part, are free.  

On the other hand, you won't find the Picaxe in many classrooms in the U.S. and the sites will be limited.

The SX is centered and very firmly grounded in this forum and on www.sxlist.com.  You'll find the SX to be a bigger challenge but the rewards are great because of its capabilities.  Once you have mastered the SX, you are well on your way to becomming a "professional" microcontroller programmer and are ready to tackle "C" on a PIC processor or something like that.

Hope this helps.

Picaxe Language Reference: http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/docs/picaxe_manual2.pdf

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