LED Matrix Display

Hello everybody,
I would like to build a scrolling message display (7 x 40). I've come across two chips that are intended for this application - max6952 and max6953 . I am still a beginner on pics and realize that I will have to learn SPI and/or I2C to use the 6952/3. Has anybody used these chips before? Do you have any feedback / suggestions?

There are old threads about this. Clicky and Clicky2.

Mike.

Hi Pommie,
I've read through those but thought maybe somebody had more experience with those chips. I've come across displays that use shift registers to drive the matrix. I'm going to have a look at that approach.