Hunting for Mindstorms!

John Board

Hi,

Maybe the wrong place to ask, but I thought I might give it a shot...

I'm hunting down a cheap Mindstorm NXT kit for a friend. In the price range of $100ish. Don't look at me! I tried to tell them that the Boe-Bot was better, but they didn't listen! I am also looking where to download/aquire the Mindstorms NXT Programming software (Preferably in Australia).

Thanks,

-John

ElectricAye

I think you can buy the NXT main controller "brick" by itself brand new for about US $150.

I was told you can download the version 2.0 software on the following page:
http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-US/News/ReadMore/Default.aspx?id=351333
But here's how I was told you do it:
1. Download the software.
2.Burn that software to a disk.
3.Then load the disk into your computer and install the software off the disk.

I was told that there was software compatible with Windows 7 on that disk, but I could never find it. However, it did contain the version 2.0 software for the iMac, which seems to work great.

If you can get your hands on an old version 1.1 disk, you can get it to work with Windows 7 by doing the craziest thing I've ever heard of: insert the disk and start installing the software. When the error messages start popping up, just cancel them out as fast as you possibly can. You must go through this crazy exercise for about 40 to 50 error windows before the error messaging system apparently gives up, then the software will start loading. I did that and so far the old version 1.1 seems to work okay on my Windows 7 even though it's not supposed to. Of course, if you've got Windows XP, then version 1.0 works without dramas.

BTW, if you find a Window compatible version 2.0 on that download to which I linked, please let me know.

I hope that helps.

John Board

How about if I'm using Ubuntu... Well, good thing is, I'm not, and even if I was, wine would do the trick (Incase you think I'm a bit crazy, wine is a windows emulator).

Sure thing, I'm not really wanting the "brick" itself, more the entire thing, well, it doesn't matter now, I've sorted everything out!

Thanks for your help,

John

Cats92

Hello,

It is clear that kids like Mindstorms , but why ?

Perhaps they used Lego blocks before and with this blocks they can build a lot of robots.

Mindstroms is also very easy to use .


The Propeller Boards may use Lego blocks : have you heard of experiences with that ?


For programs , 12blocks created by Hanno is a good try but is not well known and have not a large group of users.