I <3 SMD!

[marshallh]

I used the Velleman K8048. it runs off a serial port, got mine from QKits for $40, the only caveat is it doesn't work when you set the chip's config options to use an internal oscillator (the chip can't be re-programmed then.)

Other than that it works well.

[timmeh87]

for $40 i think you can get yourself a USB one nowadays. thats what im looking at getting. qkits has one for that price i think