Yes, but if you're using your own ISP application to program the chips via ISP, you still need to know the technical differences in the ISP protocol.

I ran into a similar problem as the one described in this thread. I, too, was at wit's end. I emailed Atmel and I promptly got a response noting this difference. Whether or not getting a response from Atmel is typical or atypical I do not know--but I did get the response and was able to adjust my program accordingly.

I, too, had the same exact reaction as Slobodan's. Given that they have an appnote on "Migrating" to the new platform, that would have been a very good place to mention the fact that the SPI-based ISP went from a 3-byte to a 4-byte protocol and also to mention the polarity change. When you see an appnote called "Migrating" you think that that should be a pretty good place to look for the "differences"--especially when the AT89S8253 is being promoted as the "replacement" for the previous models.

I'm with Slobodan. This definitely should have been mentioned in the "Migrating" appnote. Slobodan, if you haven't done so already, email Atmel and let them know. They already know I had that problem. Perhaps if enough people let them know that this is causing confusion they'll update their "Migrating" document accordingly.

Regards,
Craig Steiner