First a bit of background:   I regularly do multi-target programming.   
That is, programming where I am working on communication between two 
PIC's.    I almost always will have two ICD's running at any given time.

Right now, my ICD collection (excluding the non-usb ones), consist of a 
PICKit2, a ICD-U40 (CCS), and the mikro-e ICD.

I should also mention that I'm generally not using the *debugging* 
features of the tools.   Just not how I program - too many years of not 
having it and doing embedded work I guess.   I will occasionally dig it 
out, but it's not critical.   So I'm really just using it as an 
in-circuit programmer.

I've generally used the PICkit2 when using the microchip tools, and the 
U40, when programming in CCS PIC-C.   Unfortunately the U40 I have is 
older, and doesn't program the chips I am now starting to work with... 
so I have to share the pickit2 which can cause problems when I really am 
working on both sides at the same time.

My initial thought was just to buy a ICD-U64... but there are things I 
really like about the PICkit2 - mainly that I can set it in auto-program 
mode and it just writes the code to the device when it changes.   I also 
hear really good things about the programming speed on the ICD3, but not 
so good things about the PICkit3 (so far - realize it will probably 
improve with age).   And, I've never dove into the whole third-party 
clone options.   So, I'm really not sure which option to choose.

So, maybe what I'm asking for is a quick rundown on what people like or 
don't like about their programmers, and perhaps a comparison of the ones 
they have used.   I am not all that cost sensitive, but would much 
rather pick a less expensive tool if it will work for me. 

Thanks,

-forrest
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