On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 4:54 PM, Xiaofan Chen wrote: > On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 4:14 PM, Forrest Christian wrote: >> I currently use a PicKit2 (along with a couple of non-microchip ICD's), >> and am considering buying another one (or a PicKit3 more likely) since I >> really like the way it operates. Like it just works, on pretty much >> everything I've tried... 3.3V, 5V, ICD-powered, project-powered, etc. >> etc. etc.. If I'm having a problem with one of the other ICD's I grab >> the pickit and it just works. >> >> I occasionally on here will see people saying things like >> (paraphrasing), "I need to get another ICD2, and in the meantime I'm >> using the PicKit2", or similar remarks that indicate that there is >> something better about the ICD2, but from everything I read, and >> especially with the newer firmware loads in the PicKit, I sure can't >> figure out what it is. >> >> Did I miss something? > > ICD 2 is better integrated into MPLAB and it supports PIC32 > debugging (barely currently but it is said that MPLAB 8.20 > will have better support of ICD 2 for PIC 32 programming > and debugging). > > If you do not use PIC32 debugging, then PICkit 2 is actually > as good (or arguable better) than ICD 2 in terms of debugging > capability. Here I mean that PICkit 2 seems to be more reliable than ICD 2. But YMMV. Technically they are basically the same in terms of debugging capability. And you do not need to switch firmware when you use PICkit 2 when changing to different family of PICs. > In terms of programming, IMHO PICkit 2 is > always better than ICD 2 since it can control target > power. Take note that PICkit 2 does support programming > of PIC32. It also has other functionality that ICD 2 does > not have (logic probe, serial function and console version > programming software: pk2cmd). > > On the other hand, ICD 3 is totally different beast than > ICD 2. It is much faster than PICkit 2 and ICD 2 for > debugging of bigger PIC18/24/32/dsPICs. > > Xiaofan > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist