Quote Originally Posted by mikem View Post
I too could never make USB to serial converters work so I too got the PicKit2 from Uchip for ~ 35 bucks. The best money spent i have used it on desktops, laptops everything and never had a failure yet.

I even modified some old Olimex adapters to work with the Pickit2 and it also works great.

save yourself the heartache and get a Pickit 2 which also comes with a dev/eval PWB and working Pic.
Hello Everyone,

I just purchased a new laptop a while back that is running windows vista so I have to purchase a usb programmer. I notice that melabs sells one but the cost is much higher than the PicKit2 http://www.microchipdirect.com/Produ...Error=Quantity which sells for $34.99 as opposed to melabs http://melabs.com/products/usbprog.htm starting at $89.95 and melabs price dosn't include a case for the programmer or any of the reguired cables.

Can anyone tell me if the PicKit2 has any advantages as compared to the melabs second-generation USB programmer besides the obvious price difference?

Thanks
jessey