Hm, with technology so rapidly changing it is sometimes hard to predict where one would like to end :)Speaking about aims... I'll first answer that question and then I'd add a bit of philosophy there...

In short answer would be: I'd like to achieve level of experience necessary for efficient design of embedded system and consequently I'd like to learn to use most efficient tools available (e.g. start with Keil).

The long philosophical part following the answer: I'm determining 'Pro' and 'Hobby' solely by the money outcome. If you do something and get paid for it with obligations attached it is 'Pro', on the other hand if you do something for your own interest with no purpose of money gain (or usually with money invested) it is 'Hobby'.

Alternate definition is that a 'Pro' is somebody that is proficient in the matter and 'amateur' or 'hobby' is somebody that is basically only partially or not at all proficient. I've seen lot of 'amateurs' that are far more experienced in some fields that those whose actual line of work is in that field, but I'm sticking to definition of 'Pro' and 'Hobby' mentioned earlier to avoid confusion around the term 'proficient'. So I'd like to become 'Pro' as in 'proficient' and not 'Pro' as in 'get money' sense.

I don't see why 'Hobby' should be treated any different regarding tool efficiency. For hobby usage I don't honestly see why you should limit yourself to less powerful tool (of course if you can circumvent to pay money over your hobby budget, and mind you, when real hobby-mind is set to some goal it usually gets there. How many really dedicated radio-amateurs have you seen to get hold of sensitive military equipment or to achieve something extraordinary - somehow).

So I don't really intend to build my professional career in embedded world. It is fun, and interesting, and addictive, and can help me to construct interesting gadgets by my own, and it is relaxing and rewarding. Ok it requires a lot of effort, but one that is truly interested usually doesn't notice it especially if it is followed by an unforgettable 'A-HA!' experience. I'm not so sure that I would like for my 'leisure-time' dedication to become my work. It usually becomes run-over by obligations, deadlines etc.

For example, I'm a scubadiver. And lot of my friends from club when were going to army went to scubadivers. I haven't. Digression: in my country military service is still mandatory to all adult males, so you (normally) can't avoid time in service at some point of your life. Why I've opted not to go to scubadivers? Well there is sometimes a day you simply don't want to dive. So - you don't. You dive - when you enjoy diving. In service you have to dive whenever it was ordered no matter if you want or not. Furthermore in diving a certain risks are involved, and in army those risks are sometimes over my hobby-limit (such as 'oxygen-only' dives with sole purpose to avoid unnecessary detection by the bubbles released - more risky and less enjoyable), especially in the (unfortunate) event of war - and hence you 'get saturated' faster that those who didn't transform their hobby to their work. It is philosophical point, I know, but it is also my point of view. I'm not saying that you should do something you don't like - on the contrary, one SHOULD overlap interests with the work or wouldn't be able to be successful, but 'hobby' has a certain passion attached that could be lost in the process of mandatory work and that would be the shame.

On the other hand, I don't know which way the wind blows, and I may come to the point that my professional career intersects embedded world and if that happens I wouldn't like to start it over just because it was 'hobby' before.

So - Keil it is (which btw I'm also learning to use, still limited to 2K, but working :)

Thanks for the suggestion,

Best luck,
CN