Take it from me, anyone who says they don't want to learn ASM or don't want to learn C is making a big mistake. Final. Over and out.

edit: Clarification. Of course I am referring to folks on this site, students and otherwise, who would like to learn to program and use microcontrollers, PIC or any other.

 

I had looked at PICAXE before but the only problem was I couldn't find anywhere to buy them for cheap in the USA and $7 for one chip is a bit too much. I will buy parts to make arduino and PIC but I think I am going to go with arduino. I am not a hardcore EE or anything. I just want to do some projects like the solenoid glockenspiel.

For my USB to Serial cable, I will use a Nokia CA-42 cable which has a built in USB to TTL converter.
http://www.uchobby.com/index.php/2009/10/04/diy-usb-to-serial-cable-for-3/

For PIC I don't have $50 to spend on a pic programmer.

Unless I can find PICAXE for cheap I am going to go with arduino since the community is so big and I am only doing small projects.

 

Unless I can find PICAXE for cheap I am going to go with arduino since the community is so big and I am only doing small projects.

http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/

 

http://www.phanderson.com/picaxe/

Wow, This one is a steal!

They are handy devices, especially for people starting out and using BASIC, all the fiddly bits are taken care of in the background. They make the Basic Stamps look so... 90's.

 

For PIC I don't have $50 to spend on a pic programmer.

You don't have to,when I started I built my own programmer...
Don't use JDM type programmers,as they might not work properly.They are dependent on the RS232 signal levels of your computer...

Use any type like Parallel port or serial port programmer with external power supply like these...
Parallel Port Programmer : http://www.oshonsoft.com/picprog.html
Serial Port Programmer : http://www.oshonsoft.com/picprogpro.html
with them you will get the programming software too...

Here is a Basic compiler...
http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/

But I will perfer you learn about assembly and C as Basic will not take too far...
Google some assemble tutorial on PIC and for assembling use MPLAB from Microchip.

Good Luck

 

If you are on a budget try this http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_(MSP-EXP430G2)

 

If you are on a budget try this http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_(MSP-EXP430G2)

That link goes nowhere bro.

 

That link goes nowhere bro.

Sorry I just did a cut and paste from the TI web site. But the link was messed up by the forum software Let me try using BB codes http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_(MSP-EXP430G2)

 

That TI board looks good. I am getting it. I can't seem to find much info about programming it though. I think it is C is that correct?

 

That TI board looks good. I am getting it. I can't seem to find much info about programming it though. I think it is C is that correct?

You can download free tools like C compiler for that TI board