EEVblog #39 - Microchip PICkit 3 Programmer/Debugger Review

Dave compares the new PICkit 3 to the old PICkit 2, and, well, he starts to rant uncontrollably about how Microchip may have screwed this up...
And what do MBA managers and dickheads have in common?

UPDATE: Be sure to watch Microchip's hilarious video response! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YUvlrVlNao

Intro music by Kevin MacLeod

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• pickit
• programmer
• microchip
• debugger
• software
• hardware
• pic
• microcontroller
• 16f
• 18f
• 24f
• 32f
• bit
• 16

[Rk17]

love your blogs man! your funny! keep it up! ;> been thinking what to buy i think ill go with the pickit 2? good decision right? :)

[EEVblog]

@Rk17 No, the Pickit 2 is no longer supported, get the Pickit3

[electronicsperson1]

OK so with all these crappy features would it be worth it to buy PICkit3 for the newer microcontrollers that they have made or just buy PICkit2 and use older microcontrollers

[EEVblog]

@electronicsperson1 Buy the PicKit3, it has improved since this review. The Pickit 2 is no longer supported.

[arsenal14forlife]

@EEVblog i am about to buy a programmer for my project, is the pickit 3 the best pic programmer out there for a great price?

[EEVblog]

@arsenal14forlife Yes, it's probably the best value out there, just buy it.

[blogsterification]

if it aint't broke....

[ve2zzz]

Another smart choice is the ICD2 for older parts. And there, i have to say that the clones are better built that the original part. The miniature type-B USB connector of the original part is inherently fragile while the full-size type-B of the clone is definitely stronger. It's sad to say that but it's a fact.

Another thing is that some clones are built with through-hole components which makes the programmer easier to repair in case of failure.

[abolo1]

Sold. I shan't be buying a pic kit 3.

[thegenrl]

mate you i believe you are right on with everything you said. especially how the decision was purely management.

what a shame... i just did a design using the new pic16f1503 and afraid i might have to go to the pickit3. gah!

[Snowman374th]

That's funny shit right there!

Debugger: This is what I call those debunkers. Debuggers, because they couldn't debunk a bugger coming out of their own nose.

[Desishikamaru]

@EEVblog

hey dave, The pic kit 2 used to give the device ID when connected to a pic chip....does the latest version(i know the old version of pickit 3 did not) of pic kit 3 give the id of the device connected to it...I am a lot into reverse engineering so the pickit 2 was a blessing...does the new version of pickit 3 have that feature?

[46I37]

PicKit3 still sucks in 2011. All our engineers still hate it and scrounge around for PikKit2 or an ICD3.