AVR ATmega Series

The available configurations and performance are competitive with each other.

AVR is the way to go.

The reason is simple. AVR has a full-featured, free C compiler and development environment available for it. PIC does not.

The WinAVR sweet is centered around the GNU C compiler. It also includes an editor and software for burning your code onto chip.

To get the same functionality for the PIC series of chips, you'd need to spend between about $150 and $1000. Even then, some compilers only target a range of chips within the PIC series.

AVR also offers the ultra-nifty Butterfly ATmega169 demo board for $19.

It includes an LCD, light sensor, joystick, temperature sensor, 512k of ROM, a speaker an on-board battery and yet more things that are escaping my memory.

Joe Pardue has published a book, C Programming for Microcontrollers offering a tutorial in C programming centered around the Butterfly board. It even includes a CD with the Winavr compiler. It has some rough edges, but is generally well-written.

He also offers the book packaged with the Butterfly board and a bunch of electronic components for experimentation at $79.99. This is a good deal.

The learning curve is steeper than getting started with a Basic Stamp. However, the skills learned are much more applicable to other projects. If you're already generally familiar with programming and electronics, this is a great way to get into microcontrollers.

Pololu's Orangutan series of robot controllers use ATmega chips in conjunction with onboard motor controllers. Prices range from $25 up to $80.

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