movin on up (maybe)

Archiver

Hello All!

I have completed my first serious microprocessor project using the
stamp. It was a lot of fun and pretty painless. I want to do some
other projects now but I would like to use a more basic microntroller
(like a pic) for cost and performance reasons. I recently saw an ad
for the new Z8 encore line of controllers with a $49 developement
system including a C compiler. Anyone have any input on this?

Here are my nebulous questions:

What is the next logical step up? from the basic stamp.

What do I need to take that step - (entry level developement tools,
etc)

My hardware wish list is I2C, SPI, A/D, timers.

My develpement wish list is C language (which I will have to learn)
including floating point.

I don't mean to knock the Stamp by posting here. It's a great device
and I will continue to use it where it's appropriate. Just looking to
make the next step. Any input appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Archiver

Never used a pic (or have I)\?) I strongly recommend the Scenix
SX......Available through Parrallax


[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Archiver

I've used both the Stamp and the PIC - I liked to develop ideas and test
things on the stamp, then use a pic for the final device - a lot cheaper.
(I'm talking single personal use projects, not production stuff).

There is a PicBasic compiler, both a lite and a pro version. The lite
version uses the StampI language, the Pro version uses the Stamp II
language (with extensions). Basically (pun intended) you can develop a
project on the Stamp, then port it to a PIC using the PicBasic compiler
with only minor changes.

There is a lot more support on the net for PIC stuff - there are free
compilers (quality varies), and a pile of utility routines, such as
floating point packages. The PIC line is quite extensive - the 16F877 is a
40 pin device with an 8-channel 10 bit A/D converter, lots of memory, and
it costs less than $10. Builtin SPI, UART, timers, etc ad nauseam.

There are C compilers out the wazoo - I've not yet invested in one.

Have fun!

Larry

At 07:59 PM 11/14/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>Hello All!
>
>I have completed my first serious microprocessor project using the
>stamp. It was a lot of fun and pretty painless. I want to do some
>other projects now but I would like to use a more basic microntroller
>(like a pic) for cost and performance reasons. I recently saw an ad
>for the new Z8 encore line of controllers with a $49 developement
>system including a C compiler. Anyone have any input on this?
>
>Here are my nebulous questions:
>
>What is the next logical step up? from the basic stamp.
>
>What do I need to take that step - (entry level developement tools,
>etc)
>
>My hardware wish list is I2C, SPI, A/D, timers.
>
>My develpement wish list is C language (which I will have to learn)
>including floating point.
>
>I don't mean to knock the Stamp by posting here. It's a great device
>and I will continue to use it where it's appropriate. Just looking to
>make the next step. Any input appreciated.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>
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Larry Bradley
Orleans (Ottawa), Ontario, CANADA