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Final decision! — Parallax Forums

Final decision!

VaatiVaati Posts: 712
edited 2009-05-29 15:41 in General Discussion
Which one is better ALL IN ALL:· the SX Blitz or the SX Key?

(All in all means price, ease of use, all that stuff.· Just wanted to clarify that for those of you who don't understand.)

Thanks.

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Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-05-22 03:16
    You're the only one who can answer that ... and only for your situation.

    The debugging features of the SX Key are nice. For someone whose time is expensive, whether in money terms or in terms of life goals, the $20 difference is a "no brainer".

    If you don't have the $20 readily available or it means the difference between getting one SX Protoboard or two, getting an SX Blitz and $20 worth of other stuff may be a "no brainer" and you'll willingly put up with debugging in a bit more difficult fashion. You'll still get the job done.
  • Shawn LoweShawn Lowe Posts: 635
    edited 2009-05-22 13:46
    Go for the Key, you wont regret spending the extra cash.

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    Shawn Lowe


    When all else fails.....procrastinate!
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2009-05-22 13:51
    I would NOT recommend the SX-Blitz to a beginner.

    The adjustable clock and debugging features of the SX-Key are too important.

    If you just want to burn chips....Then the Blitz is okay.

    Bean.

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    There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. Make sure you don't cross it...

    ·
  • dkemppaidkemppai Posts: 315
    edited 2009-05-25 03:43
    Vaati said...
    Which one is better ALL IN ALL:· the SX Blitz or the SX Key?

    (All in all means price, ease of use, all that stuff.· Just wanted to clarify that for those of you who don't understand.)

    Thanks.
    Get the Key!

    The first time you write code that won't function the way you think it will, and have to single step it to figure it out...· Then·you KNOW why you bought the key.

    -Dan


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    "A saint-like quantity of patience is a help, if this is unavailable, a salty vocabulary works nearly as well." - A. S. Weaver
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2009-05-29 01:56
    Vaati

    SX key

    The DeBug window is worth its weight in GOLD.




    _______$WMc%_____

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    The Truth is out there············································ BoogerWoods, FL. USA
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-05-29 02:38
    Whoah-- Wait! What about the penguin? I just got mine in the mail today and saw that it uses an SX48, but has a sort of "clone" prop plug for the USB connection.... how????

    Thanks.

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,213
    edited 2009-05-29 03:04
    The SX on the Penguin has a PBASIC interpreter installed on it (BS2p) -- you'll use the BASIC Stamp editor for programming, not the SX-Key editor.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-05-29 05:53
    Parallax uses a preprogrammed PIC processor for the BS1 and the BS2 Stamps. For all other Stamp models (like the BS2px in the Penguin), it uses a preprogrammed SX processor. As JonnyMac mentioned, these use the Stamp programming protocol and hardware which is handled by the Stamp Editor and, with the Penguin, an ordinary USB port.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-05-29 14:36
    So.... If I use an SX interpreter chip and a sort of prop plug circuit, I can use it with the .bpx files and not have to worry about an SX-specific programming tool?

    Thanks.

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2009-05-29 15:14
    Vaati said...
    So.... If I use an SX interpreter chip and a sort of prop plug circuit, I can use it with the .bpx files and not have to worry about an SX-specific programming tool?
    Thanks.

    That is correct. When you use any of the BASIC Stamp interpreter chips you will also need an external EEPROM chip since that is where you program is stored instead of inside the SX chip itself. That is the difference. The interpreter chip will allow you to use a serial connection for programming and it can transfer the program to the external EEPROM chip which then contains the tokenized BASIC code. If you get a plain SX processor you need a special programmer to program the chip itself.

    The chips that are pre-programmed are very easy to use with tons of examples online. They do cost more, require the external EEPROM chip, and are slower than the raw SX chips.

    The SX chips themselves cost less (since you don't pay for the BASIC Stamp interpreter) and can perform much faster. You can also gain access to other features of the chip (interrupts, timers, etc) that you can't use with one programmed with the BASIC Stamp Interpreter. With SX/B you can still program in a BASIC like code but can do a lot more with these chips. It all depends on what you want to do with them. That will determine which chip to go with.

    For debugging the SX-Key is something that is very useful. Once you get past that however you may not need the extra functionality and the Blitz is fine for just programming the chips. Either programming tool is a one time cost since they can be used over and over to program any number of chips.

    Robert
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-05-29 15:41
    Well, the real thing that made me take a closer look at the SX is that it is smaller than the prop and still has sufficient I/O. It's great for pocket sized projects. Well, now that I think of it, I will have to go for the plain ol' SX, because the SX interpreter chip is not in the Gadget Gangster inventory, so....

    Well, I am going to do all my schoolwork so I can build my penguin and think about the next·Parallax product·I will blow my money on. =) Thanks for the help and advice!

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
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