123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments for the Evil Genius (Paperback)

by Myke Predko (Author) "Before astronomers begin to investigate and learn more about a star, they make sure they fully understand the tools they are going to use..." (more)
Key Phrases: breadboard wiring kit, movlw low, movlw high, Evil Genius, Hardware Notes, Respond Command (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Microchip continually updates its product line with more capable and lower cost products. They also provide excellent development tools. Few books take advantage of all the work done by Microchip. 123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments for the Evil Genius uses the best parts, and does not become dependent on one tool type or version, to accommodate the widest audience possible. Building on the success of 123 Robotics Experiments for the Evil Genius, as well as the unbelievable sales history of Programming and Customizing the PIC Microcontroller, this book will combine the format of the evil genius title with the following of the microcontroller audience for a sure-fire hit.

From the Back Cover
123 PIC® MICROCONTROLLER EXPERIMENTS FOR THE EVIL GENIUS

123 STEPS FROM NEWBIE TO PIC PROGRAMMING GENIUS!

"Smart" house features and "smart" appliances, are just some of the multitude of inexpensive PIC micontroller projects created by PIC expert Myke Predko.

More than just hours of fun, these exciting experiments provide a solid grounding in PIC microcontrollers and the skills needed to program them -- from the ground up. Each experiment builds on those before it, so you develop a hands-on, practical understanding of microcontroller programming. You don't need any knowledge of programming to get started. But by the end, you'll be able to complete your own awesome projects!

123 PIC Microcontroller Projects for the Evil Genius:

• Introduces you to programming and customizing the PIC MCU step-by-step -- you don't need to be a whiz to get started, but you will be when you are finished
• Shows you how to set up your own PICmicro MCU (microcontroller) and development lab based on one inexpensive Microchip PICkit 1(R) starter kit
• Vividly explains the science and electronics underlying microcontrollers
• Gives you enjoyable step-by-step experiments that build your skills, one small increment at a time
• Teaches you to program PICmicros in both C and assembly language
• Shows you how to interface sensors, switches, LEDs, LCDs, and other commonly used electronic interfaces
• Offers step-by-step experiments that develop handy resource routines in assembly language
• Challenges you to stretch the limits of PIC MCU applications
• Suggests exciting directions you can take your new programming skills
• Supplies parts lists and program listings

Go to: www.books.mcgraw-hill.com/authors/predko for:

• Full source code for the experiments
• PC executable code
• Links to buy your own Microchip PICkit 1 starter kit
• Links to other resources

IMAGINATIVE EXPERIMENTS THAT TEACH PIC MCU PROGRAMMING -- WHILE PROVIDING HOURS OF LEARNING FUN!

[Inside book] ABOUT THE AUTHOR Myke Predko is Test Architect at Celestica, in Toronto, Canada, a supplier of printed circuit boards to the computer industry. An experienced author, Myke wrote McGraw-Hill’s best-selling 123 Robotics Projects for the Evil Genius; PICmicro Microcontroller Pocket Reference; Programming and Customizing PICMicro Microcontrollers, Second Edition; Programming Robot Controllers; and other books, and is the principal designer of both TAB Electronics Build Your Own Robot kits.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (June 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071451420
• ISBN-13: 978-0071451420
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,228 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title, Full of Errors, Abandoned by Author, December 7, 2006

By	Kalos Orisate "kalos2004" (Greenland) - See all my reviews

This is a Tale of Two Books.

One Book misrepresents itself as a compilation of "123 PIC Projects for the Evil Genius." Wannabe Evil Geniuses everywhere will be mightily annoyed when they find out - after purchase - that this is not at all a listing of evil projects. It gets worse: The book is full of typos and coding errors.

The "Second" book - while physically the same book - is actually/potentially a very good hands-on guide/course to learning PIC Microprocessor programing and system development. The name of the book should be changed to something honest, such as "A Two-Semester PIC Programming Course." Predko is obviously a very good PIC programmer, and his language prose skills (or his re-writer's skills...) are impressive; one of the few authors who uses semicolons consistantly and correctly. Nevertheless, there are many gramatical and wrong-word errors in the text - which can't easily be found with a spell checker. I think after completing all 123 experiments, a reader would be a pretty fair PIC programmer. I imagine two months of every-day effort would be enough to get up to speed. However, as other reviewers have pointed out, even the source code and schematics have errors, so a student or teacher should hesitate to use this books as a one or two semester class unless someone -a summer test student maybe - had taken a run through the entire book and noted all discrepancies. It's not a good start that the author's instructions for initial laoding and setup of PICC LITE and MPLAB IDE don't work as detailed, and that suddenly an unexplained HI-TIDE IDE is offered for download without explanation.

Mostly it bothers that the author seems to have abandoned this book. No forum, no errata list. No forum discussion of HI-TIDE. Did the author just take the money and run ?

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A wealth of info, seriously needs editing, February 5, 2006

By	Douglas L. Carter Jr. (Bothell, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love and hate this book. It is packed with information, and the as I'm new to microcontroller programming, I'm learning a lot from it. Myke's knowledge of the PICMicro controllers really shines through. It covers a wide range of topics from toys, sensors, C & ASM coding. Note: You'll want to turn off compiler optimizations when stepping through code to understand it or you may become confused. The optimizer is aggresive (which is good) but it can do strange things.

My only real complaint is that it is full of typos and errors both in the text and schematics. One example, the schematic for experiment #96 says 6.0V but it actually needs 4.5V.

Also, I've learned that it's hard to find discrete components locally now (everything is surface-mount) so you'll probably have to order parts online through Digikey, Jameco or Mouser. Order extra PICs as you'll inevitably fry a couple.

If you want to learn what microcontrollers can do, than this is the book for you.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointed, September 26, 2005

By	Doyle A. Maleche - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've enjoyed the publications by Myke Predko, however, this book was a dissapointment. It claims 123 "Experiments" ,but this is not the case. Each "experiment" is acutally a page or half page "topic" on ideas, or suggestions regarding PIC interfacing and VERY basic electronics.

The title is misleading.

I would only recommend this book as an introduction to the PIC Microcontroller and those who are interested in basic electronics.

Myke Predko is an exceptional professional and is considered the Oracle of the PIC Micro-Controller. I have 10 of his books but could not enjoy this one.