Hi John,
Can you elaborate on a problem or two with the PK3?

I mean, I've seen the video and all that but I haven't had much trouble with mine. I kind of bricked it once when I was using the stand alone software but was able to regain control of it by redownloading the OS. Appart from that it's been working perfectly. I'm sure there ARE problems with it - as it most likely is with other programmers as well - but the PK3 product is alive and they (Microchip) are supporting it, if I'm not mistaken.

I've read various reports on newer PIC models not being supported by the older PK2 but I'm not sure if that involves the stand-alone software, MPLAB, both or none.

/Henrik.