Some of the cheaper PICs cost less than $3 and will still give you more performance than the Basic Stamp. Others are more expensive, as high as $35 but have extra features that may be of use to you. ?These include A/D converters, PWM modules (for motor control), and serial communications modules. The cost will also vary depending on how fast a controller you need and how many I/Os you need, depending on which you chose you can get from 6 to 68 I/Os. The software (MPLAB) needed to write code for the PICs can be downloaded for free at www.microchip.com. ?A programmer as well as the PICs can be bought from Jamco or Digikey. ?The programmer costs about the same as what you would pay for a Basic Stamp and a Stamp demo board. ?The only disadvantages are that you would have to wire up the PIC in the circuit you are using. ?This requires a master clear circuit, and an external clock source. ?You can use the internal clock on the PIC but at reduced performance. ?Also if you use a PIC and MPLAB then you will have to write code in assembly language instead of basic. ?This is not really a disadvantage, because although it is a little harder to learn, it gives you greater control over what the controller is doing. ?You may want to download MPLAB and play with it first as well as some data sheets for various PICs. ?This will give you some idea what you are getting into before you have to spend any money.
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Tom,
BASIC Stamps have their purpose I suppose, but $34 per chip is expensive. ?
Compared to $5 for a PIC with more features and greater speed.
Stamps actually contain PICs. ?Their expense is due to making the
programming of them easy for beginners. ?I'd only recommend them for someone
who has never programmed computers before.
