Hi, I'am using ponyprog several years (mostly for programming AVR's) and it's my favourite program.
Now, I've found out, the ATmega1284P is not supported by this program. ATmega1284 belong to series of mega84, mega164, mega324 and mega644, and now is cheaper than mega644 was two years ago (now, costs of both are similar). Most important, there is produced in DIP package (contrary to e.g. mega128
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PonyProg