you are suggesting that I should use an AVR Microcontroller (not Arduino?)
no I am suggesting that arduino uses AVR micros, not microchip PIC's
because they are more newbie oriented?
no becuase arduino is more newbie oriented, and arduino uses AVR micro-controllers, there are some adaptations that will allow you to use pic micro-controllers, but there are doezens of models, your chances are slim
same with avr controllers, but since arduino's are originally based on avr controllers the chances greatly increase. Its like PC software, you have a mac, we use windows, you want to write windows software that runs on mac, its not impossible, but ...