So, why do you use Windows? but Linux?
1) Windows have many developed applications
2) Windows, easy to use
3) Many people use windows, if you use Linux, you may get problems on communicating.
4) If you got problems as using Windows, many people can help you
5) How stable Microsoft still stand still, you can use windows stably.
.....
Therefore
1) PICs of Microchip have many developed applications, and they are used on many embedded systems
2) There are many types of PICs that are suitable for many applications of your own.
3) PICs have only about 35 instructions to learn (if you use AT89C51, you will see) easy to use
4) There are many professor, technicans, engineering... have learnt PIC years ago to now. So if you wanna communicate with them, you should use PIC. Like why you should use C language or Pascal to communicate with programmer all over the world. Many programmer know Pascal and C, but if you use Basic, you may not talk to old, well known profs. ( I means to Robotics, or other branches profs, not Computer Science profs..
) ***** Think of it..
5) Well supported
6) Microchip is a strong enough coops, and they still support for many applications. You will see the differences from Application Notes of PICs, and the datasheets.
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I chose PICs for these reasons. As you got problems, come to this forum, then ask, you will be helped.
Years ago, I asked this question to choose the most suitable MC to use for my project, then I chose PIC eventhough in Vietnam, it's very difficult to buy PICs. I had to program and build circuits to run PICs "on paper" because I could not buy PICs. Until last year, I was sponsored for my robot project, and I did a wonderful thing with PICs. And I understand more about pics (from Nigel, Chippie....)
Finally, I would like to say thanks to this forum, where I learnt many things from it. And now, I'm back, just to help beginners as I was.