🚀 go-pugleaf

Microchip just announced a new version of the PIC, the PIC16C71.  Its
basically a super-upgraded version of the 18-pin 16C56.  Has a built-in
four channel 8-bit A/D converter, runs on 3-6v, has 1K (14-bit) program
memory, 36 registers, 12 special-function registers, 8 level hardware
stack (and they eliminated the silly page mode problems), and 13 I/O
lines.  The A/D can be disabled (uses port A).

An interrupt is available on the RTCC input.  New sleep modes exists and
wakeups can occur after an A/D conversion completion (20us), or when any
of 4 bits of port B change state.  Also, wakeup now continues with the
next instruction instead of jumping back to 0 (the new reset vector too).

The chip can also can be programmed over a two-wire serial line.  It
appears to be a single part that you can program for different oscillator
options, unlike now where you have to buy 1 of 4 different parts.

Parallax supposedly has a $99 upgrade to their programmer for the chip
but I haven't called them yet.  Microchip says it will ship in quantity
in November, probably long before you get your obsolete 16-pin Motorola
micros.  They also said a new version of the PIC will come out by the end
of the year, and it will have EEPROM program memory.

-mkl