16bit MCUs: PIC vs. MSP430

I've been working a little bit with the PIC24F series and the MSP430Fx4xx series MCUs - they're both 16bit and previously I have only worked with 8bit. Not sure which I should go with - anyone have an opinion?

I'm looking specifically at chips with IR support built in. Thanks!

IR as in IRDA?

Ya, IrDA - both have hardware support for IrDA and a software protocol stack.

Apples & Oranges then, whichever one you have the compiler and tools for.

I'm really liking the MSP430, but I don't have any specific opinion on which to go with as I've never used the 24 series. The MSP430 series is really nice, and super low power. Using them in my RF network project, but they are expensive relative to what you get.

I'm just using an ez430 USB programmer with spy-bi-wire, but not all MSP430 chips support spy-bi-wire programming/debugging.

I would suggest you should consider what 8 bit experience you have?, if it's PIC go for the 16 bit PIC, it's it Texas, go for the Texas chip.