PIC Programmer

[mackrackit]

I use KICAD on Linux and XP and VISTA.
From the web site.

Kicad binaries exists for Linux and Windows (XP, 2000, Vista)

http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/

Is this ICSP, and is that Low Voltage programming?

It is ICSP. LVP is something else

Adapters for other chips, are they available?

can I use a breadboard for programming my micro's reliably or should I be using a ZIF adapter?

All you need is a six pin header. No ZIF required.
Here is a pic of a messy setup (a bad pic)
<img src="http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2979&stc=1&d=122612567 7 />