A RPi can program a PIC or AVR using junk box transistors. So if you need a Pickit Clone or USBAsp in a hurry you can easily boot load the firmware int= o your DIY Clone. No fiddling with unreliable virtual serial port adapters, o= r digging out an old PC with a parallel/serial port. The I2C and SPI pins are available to breakout. Which means that you can write a high level controller (not real time) with gui to play around with some ICs. Which for $35 is pretty decent and should save time. Which is money. Also I think that the Spectrum, PSX, SNES, Nes and Mame emulation is alread= y available, performance is variable.=20 There are lots of Youtube videos out, this device has lots of versatility and potential for $35. --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .