I just used a really cheap CH341A programmer from ebay and a SOIC8/SOP8 to DIP8 socket adapter, as all I needed was an EEPROM dump. If I needed to program much in the way of other memory and microcontroller chips, I would have went for a Willem or a MiniPro TL866 or similar. Mini blowtorch to remove and replace the memory chip. Job done.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/gadgets-to...g/blow-torches
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