There are two similar looking programmers available from Lloyd Research but that is where the similarity ends! The newer fxRAPIDO is much faster and supports larger flash memory than the M9000. Both are ideal for programming popular microcontrollers such as Microchip PICs and Atmel AVRs The M9000 is recommended for small micro controllers such as Microchip PICs, Hitachi / Renesas H8s and 68HC705 and 908s from Motorola / Freescale. It also supports eproms and flash memory up to 32M bits. The fxRAPIDO is a much faster programmer which makes it ideal for programming flash memory as well as small micros and eproms. It is fitted with a USB port which is about ten times faster than a 115K baud link to a PC. Also, increasingly PCs are not fitted with RS232 ports. Although the fxRAPIDO can be used stand alone, the PC utility supplied makes it easy for unskilled operators to repeat a job. Both models can operate with or without a PC. Data can be loaded from a master device or downloaded from a PC using our PC software which runs under Windows 98, 2000 and XP, etc. A range of over 100 socket modules supports different packages and device families. Many of these socket modules can be used on both the M9000 and fxRAPIDO models. Both programmers can be fitted with either two identical socket modules providing a maximum of eight programming sites OR two different socket modules. As each socket module is coded, it is not possible to use the wrong socket module and all sockets are mounted horizontally which is important for surface mount parts. Finally, both programmers are suitable for incorporation into automated systems. In particular, we have provided programmers to companies specialising in mechanical handling for the high speed programming of serial eeproms.