Is this a good way to learn about PICs?
 

Hey folks, as you know I am a n00b, and I would like to learn about PICs. I am thinking about buying this, a PICkit 2 starter kit for $50:

Product Search - microchipDIRECT

Then I'd go through its 12 lessons on assembly programming and actually get to mess around with the low end micro controller it comes with and go from there.

I figure I would need to get a programmer anyway, and if I want to (for example) work with a 40-pin PIC18F4580-I/P later on, I can get a compatible 40 pin adapter such as this one to use for programming for roughly $12 shipped: ICSP Adapter ZIF 40 pin PIC use with PICkit 2 or 3 - eBay (item 330316206643 end time May-20-09 07:47:37 PDT)

Thanks for any input, guys!

For just getting started w/embedded stuff I would suggest an arduino or clone. They can be had for ~$20 and you will be blinking LEDs and whatnot before you know it.

It isn't hard to outgrow it, but is still a very cost effective learning experience even if you find you need to go to a PIC later on.

I've got a cheap jdm serial PIC programmer, it has been kind of a pain to sort out but I think I've almost got it working.

Note, that adapter will still need an ICSP programmer to connect to it it seems.