Just made my first real life video tutorial, delves into;
Electronic hardware requirements
Development tools
How to find basic information in datasheets
Using Swordfish
Using PICKit 2 Software & Hardware
Constructing and using circuits on breadboards
and heaps of other little things along the way
I do assume a little bit of electronics knowledge - eg, reading circuit diagrams - because I'm guessing if someone has the knowledge to Google "Intro To PIC's" then they know something about basic electronics...
Only mistake I can spot is when I call the 7805 case a TO-20 instead of TO-220 - but the datasheet is open and I have the mouse over the correct package labeled "TO-220" so that shouldn't be to confusing, if noticeable at all!
Very good practical tutorial, well done, think a lot of beginners will find this very helpful.
Think you could easily expand it into a series of lessons.
A couple of things that may help:-
The circuit diagram of the regulator and pic - could not see a +5v connection to the pic - just the 10k to mclre.
Although you show the complete breadboard led flasher, its too distant to see the actual wires / layout - some close up stills will give newcomers a better idea of breadboard layouts.
Think you could also include a section on Assembler so beginners can see how both languages work, and make their choice.
Also might be better if you had the option to download the whole file, or smaller files covering each of your sections. A lot of people still only have dial up.
Hope that helps and that you will continue your good work and produce more practical tutorials, sure its worthy of its own little web site.
Your right though, I do "one two skip a few" on the breadboard construction - but thats only because I assume a "little" knowledge in wiring diagrams and circuit development.
Oh, the power leads - yeah, I explain about those during the simulation part. They are not shown on my sim software, but I identify them on the datasheet and talk about them at the end on the breadboard... Proteus "assumes" that the end user will connect power pins on any digital component correctly, and in return hides them and makes them un-joinable if made visible....