AVR-Chat

Hi all,

This is my first post here an I've enjoyed reading some of the 
archives.

I am in search of a microcontroller for some different projects I 
want to do and I am hoping someone can offer some ideas or set me 
straight.

I would like to make a greenhouse timer and be able to program 
variables to it from a PALM PILOT or other cheap hand held device.

Different cycles and start and stop times are really all that would 
be passed.

I also have been trying to find data on bootloaders.   As I 
understand, they offer the ability to program in your lab, then put 
into the field, and then without a programmer, upload a new program.  
Of course they take some memory so are not the cure all.

does anybody have any experiance with PALM's and AVR's and/or 
bootloaders ?

Dave