(reposted from the correct email account this time...)

Hi guys,

I've just spotted the subtle notice on Microchip's website regarding 
device support for the ICD2 -- basically they're not adding support for 
any devices released past September this year... So unless I forego the 
shiny new toys in MCHP's product line, I need to find a replacement.

I'm looking at the ICD3, on the grounds that it's the logical successor 
to the ICD2. From what I can tell, it's a "faster, better, more 
expensive" type upgrade -- the device support is better, the programming 
engine is faster, but buying one is going to set me back a fair bit more 
than I paid for the ICD2.

I'm also looking at the PICKit 3, but I've seen it get utterly panned by 
EEVBlog (and MCHP's response to EEVBlog), which criticised it for the 
LEDs being almost invisible, being slow (though MCHP say that's only the 
case for one chip), not having a command-line driver, and a few other 
issues. Does anyone know which issues Microchip have fixed in the 
current PK3 hardware rev? (MCHP seem to be staying true to form and not 
releasing a revision history for their hardware products!)

Lastly, has anyone had a play with the PIC18 Explorer demo board? The 
PK3 Explorer demo kit looks mighty tempting, though the lack of a 
prototyping board for the PICtail platform (the PICtail Plus has 
prototyping boards available) and an actual USB device port (without 
adding an extra processor module) is a bit offputting, although the 
'46J50 USB demo board isn't (too) expensive. I/O wise, it looks like an 
analog I/O has been consumed by the temperature sensor, but everything 
else is either locked in write-only mode, or can be disabled by removing 
a jumper.

So I guess what I'm asking is whether I should go for a PICKit 3 (or 
even a PK2) or the full-blown ICD3, and whether it's worth getting the 
Explorer demo board as well (it'd certainly make HPC debugging work go a 
bit quicker -- I'm sick of making PCBs).

Thanks,
-- 
Phil.
piclist@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
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