Older full versions used a parallel port dongle (Sentinel). The "best" experience is with the software license version (v3.47 and higher) which does not require a dongle.
The primary distinction in C18 versions lies in the . mplab c18 347 full version best
Certain peripheral libraries and older versions of the Microchip TCP/IP or USB stacks were written specifically for the C18 architecture. Older full versions used a parallel port dongle (Sentinel)