M. Adam Davis wrote:
> I imagine Olin was targeting production programmer features
> recommended by Microchip, such as flash verification at voltage
> margins.

That's one issue, but the PicKit2 also doesn't adhere to the PIC programming
specs over the full range of legal USB voltages.  Again, the PicKit2 is
great as a low cost hobbyist level programmer, but you really don't want to
use it where time and failures cost real money, loss of face, pissed of
customers, etc.  Note that Microchip itself calls the PicKit2 a
"development" programmer.  Their only current production programmer is the
PM3.

For the hobbyist that just wants to program and sometimes debug his hand
built one-off PIC projects, the PicKit2 is a great value.  Cutting corners
for a few 10s of $$ on a programmer doesn't make sense in a professional
situation, and certainly doesn't make sense in a production situation.

> This takes extra production time, though, and I'm certain many
> products are made without following proper 'production programmer'
> guidelines.  I'd expect that unless the failure rate was high then the
> tradeoff would be acceptable, and given Microchip's quality, I expect
> the failure rate is very low indeed.

The failure rate is very low as far as I can tell, but the cost of field
failures is very high, and not just in $$.  I don't know of any production
environment where it's not worth $45 to make sure the programming specs are
followed and the units are tested with a little extra margin.

> Suggesting a programmer might be suitable for production when it
> doesn't follow manufacturer's guidelines for a production programmer
> is shortsighted at best.

Exactly.  And if failure might result in legal liability problems, think of
what the plaintiff's attorney would make out of you saving well under $100
and not getting a production programmer for a production job, even if that
had absolutely nothing to do with the failure.


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