Choosing among microcontrollers & dev boards often comes down to one question: do you want a broad, general-purpose platform, or a focused kit for learning a particular microcontroller family? The Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit is aimed squarely at the latter, pairing a USB programmer and debugger with a low-pin-count PIC16F690 demo board.
Quick verdict
The Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit makes the most sense for a learner, hobbyist, or embedded-systems student who specifically wants to explore PIC programming. Its included programmer, demo board, tutorials, and example projects create a defined starting point rather than leaving you to assemble a development setup from separate parts.
At USD 80.00, the decision depends on whether PIC development is the goal. The kit's usefulness is closely tied to its PIC-focused design, so it is less suitable for someone choosing a board primarily around another development ecosystem.
Who it suits
This kit is a strong match for someone learning how to program and debug PIC microcontrollers through hands-on examples. The description positions it for electronics hobbyists, students, embedded systems projects, and learners who want in-circuit programming and debugging. USB power also keeps the basic setup straightforward.
It can also suit a project that needs access to supported PIC microcontrollers or EEPROM devices. The "Starter Kit" format is especially relevant if you want a programmer and an example-oriented demo board together instead of a programmer alone.
What stands out from the listed details
The combination of the PICkit 2 USB Programmer/Debugger and the PIC16F690 low-pin-count demo board gives the kit a clear educational path. Tutorials and example projects are included in its original learning purpose, while support for many PIC microcontrollers and EEPROM devices gives the programmer use beyond the included board.
The kit is also described as unopened and stored, with the package identified as the PICkit 2 Starter Kit, or DV164120. That makes the contents relevant to shoppers looking for a defined Microchip learning kit rather than a bare embedded development board.
Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board PIC16F690
Choose this kit if USB programming, debugging, and a PIC16F690 demo board address the way you want to learn. The included tutorials and example projects are concrete advantages for a guided introduction to PIC development.
The limitation is its focus: the starter experience centers on a low-pin-count PIC16F690 board and PIC programming. That narrower scope may not fit a project whose main requirement is a different type of electronics maker board. The USD 80.00 price also makes the intended use important before buying.
Meaningful trade-offs
The kit offers a more structured learning route than a standalone programmer because it includes a demo board and learning materials. In exchange, the board's low-pin-count PIC16F690 focus defines the experience. Its broader support for PIC microcontrollers and EEPROM devices adds flexibility, but the central workflow remains programming and debugging within the PIC family.
Bottom line
The Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit is a focused choice for learning PIC programming with a programmer, debugger, demo board, and example-led starting point in one package. Choose it when that specific development path matches your project; pass on it when your priority is a different board ecosystem or a less specialized platform.
