Re: PIC 18F not so popular yet?

From: Andrew Dyer (andrew.spam.dyer_at_comcast.net)
Date: 09/03/04 

Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 00:16:44 GMT

On Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:29:09 +0000, Gary Kato wrote:

>>When I google for the PIC 18F models, not much shows up. I only find
>>catalogs and datasheets, and not the amazing amount of hobby and student
>>projects that are available on the web for the 16F series.
>
> I think most student and hobyist projects do well by using the simpler 16F. You
> get to concentrate on the peripherals. The 18F is for more complex projects
> requiring lots more software support, hence the support for a larger stack for
> easier high-level language support.

I think some of it is momentum, and some is evolution overtaking
that market segment, and some of it is just the general ugliness
of programming a PIC.

Last I looked, the 18F442 was like $4.20 ea. in low qty. Philips
has an ARM based micro for around $5 these days that seems to
have a lot of momentum, TI MSP430 seems popular, as is AVR. All
of these have decent core speeds and a version of gcc which helps
the hobby market.