Current DIY or budget USB type programmers

[mr.sneezy]

OK, sounds like a PICkit2 device is a good thing from all replies.
No I'm NOT looking for a project :-) I have too many half done things laying about already.

I'll look at buying one then, but I got to say the DIY ones have lasted me longer than the commercial one I bought for $150 some years ago. It was a Warp-3.... Lovely bit of hardware, but software support sort of died after what I thought was a short time. Pity because it was serial and could be used now with a USB-RS232 converter if it supported current PIC's.

I guess MicroChip isn't going away anytime soon, but they are about to release the PICkit3 and I wonder if PICkit2 support will wane ?

[mackrackit]

I have a PiCSTART + that is I think around 8 years old. Still going strong and still supported. Upgraded it a time or two.
So I do not think there are any worries with the PICKIT2.

[mister_e]

I hear about PICKIT 3, not sure how better/different it will be of PICKIT 2 (oh... it will be RED )... 'till now, it's just a 'dream'... to be released in January 2009.
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...param=en538418
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...irects=pickit3

Their PICKIT 3 starter kit is listed at 20$ more than the PICKIT 2 Debug Express Kit... euh... mmm few assumption as they have now new and improved USB MicroController in their list: Improvements on actual performance and actual tools (Serial Comm, Logic Analyzer), more built-in tools such as Serial/protocol Analyser (seems their PICKIT Serial Analyser is a dead horse), maybe Scope, spectrum analyser, maybe signal generator... sort of... Let's read this post in January