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Yes, very few external components are required, a couple of voltage regulators, decoupling caps and a crystal and you're good to go. They're fully integrated microcontrollers. Infact the SAM7 range is easier because they embedded the reset chip & 1.8V regulator inside the device, those ones just require the crystal & 5.5V!

A PIC is even easier. A ceramic resonator (or crystal + two caps) is pretty much it and some of them don't even require that if you're happy with the internal RC oscillator. You don't need odd voltages like 5.5V either.