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Kit for Beginners? — Parallax Forums

Kit for Beginners?

TymkrsTymkrs Posts: 539
edited 2011-12-14 14:37 in General Discussion
What would you guys recommend for a first time programmer and electronics beginner get kit-wise from Parallax? No real goal - just for fun/different possible projects?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Comments

  • rogersydrogersyd Posts: 223
    edited 2011-12-10 08:44
    The Stamp kits are extremely approachable and arrive with a printed manual and complete parts bin. For starters the What's a Microcontroller? kit got me hooked on Parallax many years ago. That kit lays a solid foundation for any budding engineer. If you wanted to shell out a few more bucks the Boe-Bot + BASIC Stamp Activity Kit would be another way to go - that kit would take much longer to work through,

    -rogersyd
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2011-12-10 09:06
    Ditto. The What's a Microcontroller? kit and text is intended exactly for the neophyte. You can download the text from Parallax to look at and get a sense of what is covered.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-12-10 09:38
    For a hand's on Propeller introduction, there is the Propeller Education Kit. Great for bare bones hardware education.

    The Propeller Demo Board Starter Kit is also good for instant gratification with examples and many objects in the OBEX works with it out of the box.
  • TymkrsTymkrs Posts: 539
    edited 2011-12-11 10:28
    Ah darn...they're out of the kit for beginners unfortunately. One of our irc folks wanted to know a good beginner's kit and it was a tossup between the typical picaxe vs arduino vs prop/bs2
  • UnsoundcodeUnsoundcode Posts: 1,532
    edited 2011-12-11 10:36
    I think the OEM kits are great, the first BS2 I ever bought was OEM and its still going strong. http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/oem/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/501/Default.aspx

    On the other hand if I had that time again I would buy the PPDB, maybe a bit pricey for starters but it has a little of everything that would keep someone like me very happy for a long long time.

    Jeff T.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-12-11 10:55
    Tymkrs wrote: »
    Ah darn...they're out of the kit for beginners unfortunately. One of our irc folks wanted to know a good beginner's kit and it was a tossup between the typical picaxe vs arduino vs prop/bs2

    Both items I posted are in stock. What kit where you referring to?
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-12-11 11:13
    This kit that's on sale... http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampProgrammingKits/tabid/136/CategoryID/11/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/313/Default.aspx
  • TymkrsTymkrs Posts: 539
    edited 2011-12-11 11:28
    Odd - I got this link: http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampProgrammingKits/tabid/136/ProductID/327/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2011-12-11 11:49
    Tymkrs wrote: »
    Odd - I got this link: http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampProgrammingKits/tabid/136/ProductID/327/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

    The kit Kevin mentioned includes the USB serial adapter...
  • TymkrsTymkrs Posts: 539
    edited 2011-12-11 11:59
    That was a reply to those who asked which kit/link I was referring to :). The link I posted which showed the kit as being out of stock was just the google response to "What's a Microcontroller? kit" - either way I let my friend know about the kit that Kevin linked and you quoted just now.

    Thanks for the suggestions!
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-12-11 18:34
    Publison wrote: »
    For a hand's on Propeller introduction, there is the Propeller Education Kit. Great for bare bones hardware education.

    The Propeller Demo Board Starter Kit is also good for instant gratification with examples and many objects in the OBEX works with it out of the box.

    I second Publison's recommendation. I wish I had saved the money I spent on stamps for more Propeller boards.
  • John BoardJohn Board Posts: 371
    edited 2011-12-11 20:26
    Boe-Bot. I started on it without doing WAM. I did have previous programming experience in VB (Not that that is much :P). Good kit, tells you about programming, easy to use, has a good text, all parts included, and is a good base (sorta) for future projects.

    Also the Prop edu kit is also pretty good.

    -John

    [Edit] I would suggest using the Serial version as it has a sturdier serial port.
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-12-12 08:25
    > The link I posted which showed the kit as being out of stock was just the google response to "What's a Microcontroller? kit" - either way I let my friend know about the kit that Kevin linked and you quoted just now.

    The kit you found isn't a full kit, it's just a parts kit. That way, if you buy one of the full educational kits, you can upgrade to another by just buying the parts kit, which doesn't include a Basic Stamp or Board of Education.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-12-12 10:03
    Tymkrs, for the Propeller the best getting-started kit (in my opinion) is a totally new implementation around the Propeller BOE. The material is both educational and impressive, high-level and demonstrative of what the Propeller can do.
    This program will be unveiled on a new educational web site when the Propeller BOE is released. We're working now to complete the final prototype and start production of the hardware. Although we are very close no release date has been set. We were aiming for Christmas but I can see that's not going to happen. Early January looks promising.

    Until that is released I suggest using the QuickStart with the https://sites.google.com/site/parallaxinretailstores/home or the Propeller Education Kit http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerKits/tabid/144/ProductID/415/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName.

    With the planned beta of PropGCC the audience will be much wider in the coming months.

    Ken Gracey
  • rogersydrogersyd Posts: 223
    edited 2011-12-12 14:57
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Tymkrs, for the Propeller the best getting-started kit (in my opinion) is a totally new implementation around the Propeller BOE. The material is both educational and impressive, high-level and demonstrative of what the Propeller can do.

    Ken Gracey

    O M G. I REALLY want one of these things. Can't wait until January. It's a million years to then! How about a pre-order?
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-12-12 15:27
    rogersyd wrote: »
    O M G. I REALLY want one of these things. Can't wait until January. It's a million years to then! How about a pre-order?

    I have one on my desk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qHycpg867s and I'm very happy with the design decisions that were made in regards to what hardware facilities to include on the board. Some of it was exclusively wired whereas other items required jumpered I/O or were directly wired and don't suffer from dual-use if also ported to the header by the breadboard.

    Oh, you asked about a pre-order. Guess I was a sales person first, and a nerd second (at least that's what one forum member told me). We don't have a final price figured out yet, but it's kind of expensive due to the amount of hardware present and the fact it's made in Rocklin, CA. Yet I would have paid anything for this board four years ago.

    I might have some opposition from the internal team in regards to the pre-order, but I see tremendous benefits towards rewarding those first who want to receive one. Otherwise, we'll put the first batch of production units in our inventory, enable on-line ordering and people like yourself might miss the first day of ordering and have to wait another 30 days. I'll lobby them for some support on this idea.

    We need to determine the price. It's either $99 or $129, likely to be determined base on our costs. My preference is $99 with a no-questions asked Made in the USA Lifetime Warranty.

    You could poke around on the web and find the specification for the Propeller BOE. It has changed in several ways but still reflects the overall goal.

    Ken Gracey
  • graffixgraffix Posts: 389
    edited 2011-12-12 16:36
    Your lobbying efforts have the benefit of the mob to back ya jk,I'll take one at either price.just let me know when to give you the info.Eager to get rolling with spin!
  • Jorge PJorge P Posts: 385
    edited 2011-12-12 16:57
    My first order from parallax were a "Whats a Micro-Controller Kit" and the "Propeller Education Kit" about 2 years ago and I've been hooked ever since. The WAM kit and manual helped me understand allot more than I thought I knew. As for the PE Kit, I never used it until about a year ago. For some reason I was a bit intimidated by the Spin language, but once I forced myself to solely use binary values in my Spin code, it became allot easier for me to understand.

    As a fairly new user, non professional hobbyist, I would recommend both kits.
  • rogersydrogersyd Posts: 223
    edited 2011-12-14 14:02
    I would agree, at any price this puppy will be a home run. Although at $99 I would be tempted to buy two. Parallax rules.
  • 4x5n4x5n Posts: 745
    edited 2011-12-14 14:29
    Although I'm looking forward to the pro-boe board what I really want is one of those monitors that you have in that youtube video!! :-) Can I ask where you got it from?
  • TymkrsTymkrs Posts: 539
    edited 2011-12-14 14:33
    Computer monitors or audio speaker monitors? And which video heh :p
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-12-14 14:37
    Tymkrs wrote: »
    Computer monitors or audio speaker monitors? And which video heh :p

    Ken posted it earlier here and in another thread (which I couldn't find).

    I did find the video though.

    Edit: Here's Ken's thread. I just notice the little speaker Ken mentioned is now only $9.99 (plus shipping).
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