Velleman Kit VM111 was picked as the development platform for several reasons:

• Low Cost ($56.95 Assembled + $10.00 Shipping)
• Support for 4 different sizes of PICS ( 8,14,18,28)
• Builtin 4Mhz xtal, 4 Buttons, 6 LEDS, Reset
• Free Software and Manual
• PIC included ( 16F627 )

Google link to retailers and the place where I ordered my VM111 from.