use my mate's PIC ICSP for an ATMega?

Hi

My mate has an interest in microcontrollers and bought himself some ICSP for PIC's. I was wondering if it can be used to program an atmega328?

or are they completely different programmers

cheers!

or are they completely different programmers

They are completely different programmers. However the more basic problem is that any AVR software, including the Aruino platform will not know how to talk to a PIC ICSP hardware programmer.

What kind of PIC ICSP device? You might end up pleasantly surprised: http://www.sonsivri.com/forum/index.php?topic=27727.0

Sounds interesting but a bit in depth for me

Just bought an USB ICSP (i think it's a version of USBasp - USB programmer for Atmel AVR controllers - fischl.de ) for $11+3 postage off ebay XD