True. The PICkit 2 team is the best I have ever known from Microchip. They are really open-mind and always listen to the end-user. That's why you can list so many unique features. Funny N. Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com ________________________________ From: Xiaofan Chen To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 3:59:31 AM Subject: Re: [PIC] PicKit vs ICD On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 4:56 PM, Xiaofan Chen wrote: > 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. One more thing, you can use two PICkit 2 to debug 2 PICs. You can not do that with ICD 2. >> 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 -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist