Sorry about all the hyphens :-)
>
> I want to play^H^H^H^Hexperiment and learn about PIC-type systems, and I
> run Linux on my PC.
>
> Is there a cheap system with a PIC or similar micro:
> - with analogue & digital I/O, timers, PWM outputs and other goodies
> - which hooks up to a PC via serial, parallel, USB or ethernet
> - can be programmed from the PC e.g. into flash
> - with open-source tools for writing & loading code & interfacing to it?
>
> Initial projects I'd like to try include
> - measuring temperature at several points using cheap sensors (maybe
> diodes or perhaps AD273s), sensing mains voltage on-off signals
> (via opto-isolators?) and possibly liquids flows (if I can find or make a
> flow sensor)
>
> - similar to above but driving a small AC pump on and off (optocoupler +
> triac or SSR)
>
> - driving a bunch of LEDs on a wand to make a moving text display
> (project for the nipper)
>
> I'm looking for something available in the UK.
This is something i would also be interested in.
I'm disappointed to see no replies to the OP :(