Hi Jason, my 2c is... don't bother with adapters if you're designing the 
board as well.  Surface mount is easier than it looks to solder.  Try to 
use SOIC type stuff (wider pitch) for starters, and 0603 or 0805 
passives.  (0603 seems to be "the norm" when small pcb size isn't a top 
priority).  I see you mention ICSP programming in another email; get 
that going with a thruhole type part on a solderless breadboard, then 
for future work go with SMT microcontrollers with your (known good) ICSP 
design.  With some practice you'll be soldering TSSOP and QFN quickly 
and reliably.

I suggest going down the AVR with GCC toolchain route.  I do 90% PICs, 
and have done a few significant AVR designs, and hardware wise they have 
their pros and cons, but the GCC toolchain can't be beat.  The DIY world 
is all about arduino (AVR) and if you want to create things to share 
(open source hardware/firmware), go AVR.

The main reason I continue to use PICs is that new projects start from 
recycling parts of old ones, and known working firmware gets reused, 
etc. so there is a time cost involved with fully switching to AVR.

All my 2c.  I've do electronics+firmware design freelance full-time (and 
then some).  As another poster said in your other thread, build a 
portfolio and ideally have it all on-line.  I don't really follow my own 
advice but I should.  (I at least have pictures of boards before they go 
out the door for some future website.)

Cheers,
J



Jason Hsu wrote:
> I have never soldered surface mount parts before, but I am interested
> in using surface mount ICs, as there are many ICs that are not
> available in through-hole packages.
> 
> Are there any special adapters, holders, or sockets that you can
> insert a surface mount IC into that can connect directly to a
> through-hole circuit board?
> 
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