Byron, I see your point. In light of this, I understand why the question was asked. =20 Regards, Jim > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [PIC] counters > From: Byron Jeff > Date: Wed, April 25, 2012 9:32 am > To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." >=20 >=20 > On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 06:48:23AM -0700, jim@jpes.com wrote: > >=20 >=20 > > IMHO, all of these questions are valid except for the one asking about > > why he is using such an old micro. First, it has nothing to do with t= he > > request. Second, if you write a program for the F84, you can port it = to > > other micros in the PIC family with little to no changes. And third, > > who care? What possible difference could it make why he is using that > > particular part. He didn't ask if he was using the right part or if i= t > > was a current part, He was asking for help with programming a counter= .. >=20 > > Don't take this the wrong way. I'm not trying to start a flame war. > > I'm just pointing out that a question was asked inquiring about a fact > > that has nothing to do with the request the OP made. >=20 > Jim, >=20 > You have good points. But I do still think the question needs to be asked= .. There > are millions of pages of Microchip PIC discussions/projects that use the > 16F84[A]. With a preponderance of them, newbies (and the OP stated that) > are not really aware that they are for the most part obsolete. So by aski= ng > the question, it often gives an inrad to explaining that there are much > more capable and frankly cheaper parts. >=20 > A while ago I wrote some pages on the subject: >=20 > http://www.finitesite.com/d3jsys/16F88.html >=20 > I probably should do an update. The 16F enhanced parts are so much better= .. > I would push the 16F1847 (18 pin), 16F1829 (20 pin), and 16F1938 (28 pins= ) > as suitable replacements with the 12F1840 (8 pin) as the replacement for > the 12F508/509/629/675 series. >=20 > The debate has gone back and forth as to whether or not the added > complexity of the new parts (i.e. hardware support, banking, paging) are > useful to novices. The problem I see is that newbies quickly fall in love > with what they learn first. The 16F84 and its extremely limited hardware > resources forces novices to code everything (USART, I2C, PWM, ADC, multip= le > timers, etc.) in software, which is in fact much more convoluted than the > basic practice of setting up a hardware peripheral and letting it do the > heavy lifting. >=20 > I always see the question as informative. If a novice actually knows what= 's > going on, then it's no harm, no foul. However, if it's possible to get a > novice tracked to a much better, and cheaper platform, then the question = is > in fact a net win. >=20 > So personally I don't see a downside to it. >=20 > BAJ >=20 > >=20 > >=20 > > Regards, > >=20 > > Jim > >=20 > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > > Subject: Re: [PIC] counters > > > From: IVP > > > Date: Wed, April 25, 2012 5:48 am > > > To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." > > >=20 > > >=20 > > > > Hello guys i was asking for a help, am new in microconcrollers so > > > > i was asing help in writing a program that will count from 0-30 am > > > > using P16F84a plz guys.... > > >=20 > > > More information from you will get you a better answer > > >=20 > > > For example - > > >=20 > > > What is causing the micro to count ? > > >=20 > > > What happens when you get to 30 ? > > >=20 > > > Why are you using such a very old micro as the 16F84 ? > > >=20 > > > What language are you using ? > > >=20 > > > Joe > > >=20 > > > --=20 > > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > > View/change your membership options at > > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >=20 > >=20 > > --=20 > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >=20 > --=20 > Byron A. Jeff > Department Chair: IT/CS/CNET > College of Information and Mathematical Sciences > Clayton State University > http://cims.clayton.edu/bjeff > --=20 > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .