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How did you guys discover Parallax? — Parallax Forums

How did you guys discover Parallax?

Jeremie Urieff(Parallax)Jeremie Urieff(Parallax) Posts: 10
edited 2005-11-06 19:48 in General Discussion
Just wondering how you ran across this company, and how long ago did you first find out about it?·
I discovered it earlier this year, and this is my first post.·
I stumbled across it myself, smile.gif

Comments

  • metron9metron9 Posts: 1,100
    edited 2005-10-28 17:11
    I bought a BS2 from Radioshack, it sat on my desk arter I played with it a few hours for about 9 months.

    Now I use it and other microcontrollers every day to learn something new about ttl and cmos devices.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-10-28 17:22
    In late 1993 I saw an ad for the BASIC Stamp 1 on the back of Nuts & Volts. I thought it was too good to be true. I waited six months to purchase, and then found out I was wrong. I think it's safe to say that I have worked with / played with BASIC Stamp microcontrollers every day since that first purchase.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • Clock LoopClock Loop Posts: 2,069
    edited 2005-10-28 18:06
    After wanting a microcontroller for over a year, I forgot about them because they were quite expensive. Then I ran into a problem that could
    not be solved by anything but a microcontroller. I have a few z80 cpus, and support chips, but getting into those for a beginner seemed really hard for me, as I knew nothing about them.

    Finally I decided to purchase, did an internet search for a microcontroller. After seeing parallax in my results, I recalled that I have wanted one before. After lookin thru the website at prices, I saw it could be purchased at radio shack, immediately. So I purchased a BOE-BOT, in June 2005... I have messed with it since, off and on, some big projects, some small..

    My latest attempt is quite large, I interfaced a nokia LCD with the BS2.
    My next attempt will be to interface a TI-83 LCD to the BS2.
    Then mabee an actual LCD FLAT PANEL??? hehe, no I doubt that one.. I am sure the out pins aren't even enough to begin with.
    Just think of the program and wire mess to get a LCD flat panel to work with a BS2(or some other stamp)

    This thing is definely a need for any wannabe electronics engineer. [noparse];)[/noparse]
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-10-28 18:45
    I got started back in 2000 while looking for an alternative to building my Z80 controllers, which had an average of 10 chips on them and required a beefy power supply.· I ordered a BASIC Stamp 2 Full Kit from Jameco and found I could do 99% of what my Z80 controller did on a single BASIC Stamp 2 Module.· Been hooked ever since.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-10-28 18:53
    What's Parallax?

    [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2005-10-28 18:55
    I found them recently while looking for affordable RFID stuff for my model railroad application (which I'm driving everyone around me nuts with, not just the sandbox).

    I first found some USB type readers at another site, and then found basically the same reader here, without the USB connection. I realized the possibilities of connecting multiple readers (and possibly other sensors / outputs) to one or more microprocessors on my layout, and managing these via a PC interface.

    I'm just starting, but have already determined I made a good choice. I'm having some fun with a number of "opportunities" (challenges/problems) on the RFID side of things, but am also working on coming up to speed with the microcontroller and other applications for the railroad and elsewhere.

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    John R.

    8 + 8 = 10
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-10-28 18:59
    A different point-of-view....
    Ryan Clarke (Parallax) said...
    What's Parallax?

    [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-10-28 19:09
    ~=:The Matrix: Pbasic loaded:=~

    Morpheus: Unfortunately no one can be told what the Parallax is, you have to see it for yourself.
    Neo: What are you trying to tell me that I can dodge assembly?

    Morpheus: No, Neo. I'm trying to tell you that when you find Parallax, you won't have to.
    Trinity: Neo, no one has ever done anything like Parallax.

    Neo: That's why it's going to work.
    Morpheus: You take the black IC, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and you believe whatever you want to believe. You take a Stamp IC, you stay in wonderland. And, I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

    Happy Halloween everyone.

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    Ryan Clarke
    Parallax Tech Support

    RClarke@Parallax.com
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2005-10-28 19:18
    A friend of mine grabbed me for lunch one day and we stopped by a magazine store. (Thanks Chris Carpenter!!)
    ·
    I bought a magazine called "Electronics Now" which featured a table top tesla coil on the cover.· (At the time I had a 6ft tall Vandergraff Generator, so this was appropriate)
    ·
    After reading through the rest of the magazine I saw an article in the· "Readers' Questions, Editors' Answers" section that talked about this new microcontroller called a Basic Stamp.
    I had to get one or several!!smilewinkgrin.gif·

    A "few" of my Parallax applications later, Parallax contacted me... Funny at first I thought I won something ( The SX contest was going on at the time )... and now·I'm helping to
    make some really cool things at Parallax.


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    Beau Schwabe

    IC Layout Engineer
    Parallax, Inc.
  • knightofoldcodeknightofoldcode Posts: 233
    edited 2005-10-28 20:14
    Working at Radio Shack, part of thier thing is you have to learn how to use anything and everything in the store. We just got a shipment of the What is a Microcontrller's in store. Already had alot of programming experience, and was wanting my programs to be able to "touch the real world". So, I thought about that while I played with the WAM on company time. [noparse];)[/noparse]

    Yeah, I know, Radio Shack sucks, mostly because the sales staff don't know what they are doing. I'm the exception, I know a huge amount of the stuff in the store.... I don't work there anymore, but ya know. [noparse];)[/noparse]

    Knight.

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  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2005-10-30 03:32
    We had worked with the Easy Pic'n books in college (all I remember is the book)....well, years later I tried to recall this book for a project in mind. I think I ended up doing a net search for Easy Stamp'in....
    Anyhow, purchased a bs2 BOE and was attempting to build a maintenance tool for the inspectors at work; wanted to build an interface tool that would connect to various weather sensing equipment and give a readout right there, as opposed to making a change at the sensor then walking back to the comm shack to see if the change was read properly...) Ended up getting transfered so never finished that project!

    I seem to 'acquire' more parallax gear than actually building things with them....big project was an accelerometer on a Weather Radar.....

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    ·

    Steve

    "Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
  • Robert@HCCRobert@HCC Posts: 80
    edited 2005-10-30 06:06
    /waves at Ryan - Aloha!


    Got involved as a student coordinator during the '04 fall semester at Honolulu Community College building, programming and launching CanSatellites (satellites in a 12oz soda can), whilst attempting to earn a degree in comp/networking/electronics.

    Our first attempt was with a purchased kit ( based on the BasicAtomPro) - temp/pressure and RF mounted on hardware to fit in a soda can. Did some weather ballon launchs, then went to a CanSat competition in California and launched our CanSat via rocket 6000+ feet into the air, receiving sensor data all the way down. Saw all kinda cool custom builds by the other UnIversities and came back all fired up to move on to our own custom build.

    Did research on the various microcontroller and sensor options (plus a few lenghty n00b emails to Ryan tongue.gif ) and felt that Parallax had the best in service, support and product to offer. Just got a temp/humidity sensor, accelerometor and a BOE full kit in the mail - plus from AeroComm, some AC4790 RF modules on the way.

    Time to play!! smilewinkgrin.gif well, next friday anyways....

    So far I have to admit I ve been right - excellent support ( except for my last email that didnt get a reply, Ryan rolleyes.gifsmilewinkgrin.gif ) , great forum and a great product that is extremly well-documented , IMHO.

    Learning new things everyday, and having a great time doing it!
    Parallax is a large part of what is making it fun instead of all work for me....

    Alohas
  • John Raplee, JrJohn Raplee, Jr Posts: 32
    edited 2005-10-30 17:07
    You know that big fella Chris Savage? Him and I used to live near eachother, and he was one of my best friends.... Well still is :P. He ran a computer shop, and I would stand at his counter and we would talk for hours upon hours.... That's how I know about Parallax...

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    Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 930B
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2005-10-30 17:29
    I can't remember the year, but I remember the BS2 has JUST come out.
    I got it and used it to control my Kodak DC210 digital camera (serial interface).
    I never found out how good their support is because I'm one of thoses guys that would rather spend days trying to figure it out myself (I know, it's a fault I have to live with).
    Bean.

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    "SX-Video·Module" Now available from Parallax for only $28.95

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30012
    Product web site: www.sxvm.com
    Available now... SX-Video OSD module $59.95 www.sxvm.com

    Life is NOT a box of chocolates.
    Life is a trip, and 99% of the time you get where your headed.

    ·
  • stamptrolstamptrol Posts: 1,731
    edited 2005-10-31 23:45
    I needed a controller that would do some things that "bottom of the line" industrial PLC's couldn't ( usually serial communications to multiple other devices ).

    I saw an ad on the inside back cover of Circuit Cellar (I think) for the BS2. I ordered couple, had to wait due to some early production bumps. When the chips arrived, my tech and I couldn't believe the power available for the price.

    First project was a wire-wrapped controller that would switch the display on a truck scale from pounds to kilograms based on the truckers ID card which was read by a serial scanner. Then it used the LOOKDOWN/LOOKUP to see whether it was a Canadian or American driver and switch the display to the correct units.

    Time marches on, and I've probably put over 500 BS2's and BS2sx's into industrial equipment.

    Still am very impressed with the design team that came up with such a long-lived product!!

    Congrats!

    Tom Sisk
  • CeeterCeeter Posts: 4
    edited 2005-11-01 11:34
    A few years ago my uncle brought a sumo bot to a family reunion and I was amazed. Later I did some research and found Parallax. The next year I asked for and recieved a Boe-Bot for Christmas and got seriously interested in electronics. Now I am three months away from receiving my Associates of Applied Science in Computer and Electronics Engineering. Thank you Parallax, you had a major impact in my decision to finally go to college (I'm 27).
  • Dave PatonDave Paton Posts: 285
    edited 2005-11-01 17:41
    I inherited a dodgy EPROM programmer, which was repaired and still works. I've been hooked ever since. I think it was 1994 or 1995?

    -dave

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    This is not a sig. This is a duck. Quack.
  • PaulPaul Posts: 263
    edited 2005-11-04 04:06
    I started working for a company about three years ago that had been using the BS2 to monitor their UPS. Then the snowball appeared..... The the customers needed more information, so we added the BS2P24, a bunch of '165 and '595 chips for all the new I/O and then temperature chips and serial buffers and SNMP cards. I was reading this forum every four hours to keep up with all the new stuff. Today I read about "PINK"..will it never end???? [noparse];)[/noparse]
    -Paul
  • ejdarlingejdarling Posts: 24
    edited 2005-11-06 00:23
    I bought a starter kit on Ebay. With this stuff, you can make anything do whatever you want for any reason!

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    thanks for your time,· Eric
  • Washer MedicWasher Medic Posts: 39
    edited 2005-11-06 16:47
    I found Parallax while doing research on rfid. I was trying to set up a customer’s commercial washing machine to work on their employee’s existing rfid tags. So that only certain employee’s would have access to them unfortunately their tags are not compatible with the parallax reader and I’m having trouble getting the commercial rfid readers to work with the stamp.
    That project is on hold for now while I learn more about the stamp and electronics
    Brian

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    Darn I let the white smoke out again
  • MacGeek117MacGeek117 Posts: 747
    edited 2005-11-06 19:48
    I first found Parallax when I looked up on the top shelf at a Radio Shack storeand saw the WAM kit. Tree days later I got one for my birthday.
    RoboGeek

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    those that know binary and those that don't.
    Formerly bugg.
    www.parallax.com
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    ·
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