Hey guys, I'm new to this forum but would like to share my thoughts and experiences and this subject as well...

I followed the posted link to Microchip's "PICkit2", and if my computer hadn't been giving me trouble last night, I would have bought it right then. I would seriously consider paying $35USD for the "PICkit2" before trying to gather parts and components to build an iffy clone-type programmer that may not even program the PICs you're using or going to be working with. The best feature of the PICkit2 is the ability to load a hex file into the PICkit2 itself, and program MCU's in the field (with an appropiate USB power supply), without the need for a PC! I really wish I would've looked more into what Microchip Technologies offered before buying the programmers I have now...