I bought my programmer used in the early 2000s. It's the old blue box one that needed a special serial plug. Thanks to ESU I was able to update it for USB. That is a great thing ESU has done for their customers. Most other companies would force you to buy a new programmer after a few years. This is a major factor in why I have standardize ESU decoders in my locomotives. Unless there is a significant discount, all my future decoders will be ESU. The past eight months I have changed out 11 motor decoders to Loksound 5. From the Nano to the 21 pin. I usually buy them bare (no sound set) and add the appropriate sound set myself. The programmer allows you to even use Loksound 4 sounds on a Loksound 5 decoder. Great tool to have.
Pete.