On 12-Jul-09, at 1:12 AM, Tony Smith wrote:

>>> I want a PIC with two ADC inputs ( 10bits ) , 8 GPIO , a
>>> timer ......     It can be as slow as molasses.   What is crucial to
>>> me is that it is $5 or less: that I can pick up a cheep and trivial
>>> method of programming it ( $25 ) ; that I can get a cheep  
>>> development
>>> IDE with Basic or C or whatever ($ 25 )  ; that it runs on 3.3 or 5
>>> volts.   The bigger the physical size of the pins, the better.   
>>> DIP is
>>> better than SOIC, etc.
>>
>> You know, this is exactly the sort of thing that results in the
>> popularity of the BASIC Stamp, Arduino, and other similar "plug and
>> play" microcontroller solutions.
>>
>> An Arduino will cost between $10 and $40 dollars, but includes the
>> "programmer" and "development environment in C" for free (complete
>> with pre-done analog input functions.)  So the "total expenditure" is
>> well within the $55 budget you mention.  And the "pins" are even
>> bigger than a DIP.  Given only "passing familiarity" with
>> microcomputer programming, you could churn out a working prototype in
>> a day.
>>
>> I think a BASIC Stamp would run a bit more $$ (but still less than
>> $55) and not have as many options for "commoditization" of subsequent
>> builds, but it's also a possibility.
>
>
> Or the PicAxe.  It's just the bare chip and needs a 3-wire serial  
> cable for
> programming.
>
> Runs Basic though, which might annoy the 'Real Men' (TM), but the  
> customer
> need never know, and won't unless you tell them.
>
> Tony
>
    Ah, yes the PICAxe that reminds me. Just ran across them a little  
while ago. Checkout

PICAXE-18X Datalogger

http://194.201.138.187/epages/Store.storefront/?ObjectPath=/Shops/ 
Store.TechSupplies/Products/AXE110P

Heinz
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