C programmable Microcontroller for n00bs

[FlakMunkey]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to build a robot within the next few months or so and I can't decide on a microcontroller.
I've been looking at www.robotshop.ca and found a relatively cheap ($40 CAD) PIC based one with a
decent number of I/O pins (http://www.robotshop.ca/droids-multi-interface-board.html). The question
is, is this powerful enough to see ma, a beginner, through a good number of projects or will it last for
only two easy projects before an upgrade is needed.

Finally, is it programmable in C? I know it may seem like a silly question but the product overview says nothing
about the programming language used. I would think MAPLAB and C18 would be enough but just to double check.
I know the basics of programming in BASIC and am learning C so it doesn't really make much of a difference as to what
language I pick seeing as I'm relatively new to both of them    Learning C will probably stand me in better stead than
BASIC though.

Thanks  

Flak

[paulstreats]

Firstly .. Yes C18 and MPLAB would be fine.

Whether it would last you through a few projects then it depends entirely on what the projects are. If you are dabbling in facial recognition then no it wouldnt but if you wre looking at line followers, photovors and the like then it should be fine

[FlakMunkey]

Excellent, thank you

now to convince the parents that robot building is a good idea, that the money will be well spent and to find the time.
apart from that everything's good

thanks again

Flak