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BOE-BOT - serial or USB? — Parallax Forums

BOE-BOT - serial or USB?

twm47099twm47099 Posts: 867
edited 2013-12-03 05:42 in General Discussion
I am currently planning to buy a BOE-BOT for my nephew for Christmas. I would like to know if there is any advantage or disadvantage to purchasing the serial BOE-BOT with the serial to USB adapter rather than the BOE-BOT USB kit.

Are there any accessories that would work only with a serial port and not with a USB port?
Are there any problems with using the serial + USB adapter that do not occur with the USB only model?

Thanks for your help

Tom

Comments

  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2013-12-02 15:52
    The USB vs serial is only in the way that it's connected to your computer. From the BOE-BOT side they are identical, and they are almost completely identical on the computer side (diffing in a few drivers). I would go with USB since it's lighter weight and very few modern computers have a serial port.

    That being said, have you looked at the newer ActivityBot from Parallax? It's on sale today, and it has many more features.
  • twm47099twm47099 Posts: 867
    edited 2013-12-02 16:32
    The boy who is going to receive this is 10 years old. I've looked at the BOE-BOT activity manual and I think he can work through this, initially with his parents and later on his own. Is the ActivityBot simple enough? I am nervous about dropping him into a C programing environment (as opposed to Basic). But is the ActivityBot "C" complete in the kit (or by Parallax download) or is it necessary to buy a separate C-compiler?

    Thanks again
    Tom
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2013-12-02 16:32
    Price notwithstanding, I would go with the USB 'bot. No real difference, just one less device to keep track of. ;-)

    @
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2013-12-02 16:51
    twm47099 wrote: »
    The boy who is going to receive this is 10 years old. I've looked at the BOE-BOT activity manual and I think he can work through this, initially with his parents and later on his own. Is the ActivityBot simple enough? I am nervous about dropping him into a C programing environment (as opposed to Basic). But is the ActivityBot "C" complete in the kit (or by Parallax download) or is it necessary to buy a separate C-compiler?

    Thanks again
    Tom

    Parallax has been working hard on making C as easy as possible to get into. They have all their learn material here. After the cost of the hardware there is nothing left to purchase: it's all open source.

    As for whether or not it's something that he can handle others will be able to answer better. I've worked with some 8th graders on C before, and they seemed to get it well enough (as long as it was initially set up for them).
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-12-03 05:42
    I suspect for a youngster that is just starting out, USB will make more sense.... after all, less and less computers have RS232 available.

    Yes, in some ways the USB port is a more limited communication format, but there are other i/o pins that can be use for RS232 serial with any BOE-Bot (the BS2 or the Propeller).

    My personal leaning is against USB, but kids want to get off to a fast start.

    Parallax provides the C compiler at no extra charge, and there are other languages as well --- Basic, Spin, Java, Forth, and so on. More than enough to get started. Try the Parallax LEARN website for the best beginner support.
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