I'm excited about doing the surface mount stuff, but the timeframe is tight for me to assemble 6 Aethers after going to my brother's place in the U.S. and stay there for 48 hours to pick the kits up to legally avoid paying duties and taxes (hopefully this upcoming weekend), and other stuff going on at work keeping me busy, I'm going crazy here.
I didn't really consider getting a PIC programmer in the past because I didn't think that I'd need one, since this is a DIY web site without the need for special tools other than a soldering iron. I guess everybody has a definition of what a "special tool" is, depending on what you do for a living. I guess a mechanic wouldn't consider a steering wheel puller a special tool. But I sure don't have one.
P.S. Any Canadians here who had stuff shipped to them in Canada directly? Ever deal with duties, taxes, brokerage fees, and all that BS... or is it not as bad as it used to be? I'd like to know for future reference and future orders, because a hassle-free shipment to my place in Canada would have been sweet for my Aether order.