Comments on: The Arduino: a $25 gadget that will teach you and your kids a lot about programming and electronics http://boingboing.net/2012/12/03/an-introduction-to-the-arduino.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 09:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2012/12/03/an-introduction-to-the-arduino.html#comment-1597102 SamSam Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=169581#comment-1597102 Yeah, but even in my local Radio Shacks in Cambridge, near MIT etc, they'll mostly just shrug and point you to the chest of electronic parts in the back corner, and when you finally come back with your 25¢ diode they'll ask you if you want to upgrade your phone plan. I'm not saying that it's useless to shop at Radio shack for parts, but unless you're in a very special shop, don't expect the employees to have any clue what you're talking about. Yeah, but even in my local Radio Shacks in Cambridge, near MIT etc, they’ll mostly just shrug and point you to the chest of electronic parts in the back corner, and when you finally come back with your 25¢ diode they’ll ask you if you want to upgrade your phone plan.

I’m not saying that it’s useless to shop at Radio shack for parts, but unless you’re in a very special shop, don’t expect the employees to have any clue what you’re talking about.

]]> By: Meadhbh Octopodidae http://boingboing.net/2012/12/03/an-introduction-to-the-arduino.html#comment-1597091 Meadhbh Octopodidae Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=169581#comment-1597091 and interestingly... i found a stack full of arduino boards, shields & random sensors and bits at the local radio shack. and while i think you should DEFINITELY support the MAKE shop, having an assortment down at the shack makes it a little easier for me to tell my mom what to get for my child. also... there's just something really cool about going into a retail location, asking "can you help me find the surface mount accelerometers?" and having them not give you a dumb look. and interestingly… i found a stack full of arduino boards, shields & random sensors and bits at the local radio shack. and while i think you should DEFINITELY support the MAKE shop, having an assortment down at the shack makes it a little easier for me to tell my mom what to get for my child. also… there’s just something really cool about going into a retail location, asking “can you help me find the surface mount accelerometers?” and having them not give you a dumb look.

]]> By: Peter http://boingboing.net/2012/12/03/an-introduction-to-the-arduino.html#comment-1597077 Peter Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=169581#comment-1597077 So, if I attach an shoulder mounted death ray and a stress monitor, I can create something that will automatically destroy all who displease me? Sweet!  Next step, building a shoulder mounted death ray. So, if I attach an shoulder mounted death ray and a stress monitor, I can create something that will automatically destroy all who displease me?

Sweet! 

Next step, building a shoulder mounted death ray.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2012/12/03/an-introduction-to-the-arduino.html#comment-1597064 bcsizemo Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=169581#comment-1597064 To me the Arduino kits really have replaced the old Radio Shack 200-in-1 electronic project kits.  You can easily follow along and build a working project without much worries of failing.  But I think they have some of the similar problems the old electronic kits had, lack of in depth knowledge.  They give great exposure and do teach people things, but at a certain point you either have to bury down and learn the real ends and outs of electronics (and depending how far you want to go the math and theory behind it all), or you can just stay content with building projects.  And in reality that is a fairly big step that can be frustrating at times. To me the Arduino kits really have replaced the old Radio Shack 200-in-1 electronic project kits.  You can easily follow along and build a working project without much worries of failing.  But I think they have some of the similar problems the old electronic kits had, lack of in depth knowledge.  They give great exposure and do teach people things, but at a certain point you either have to bury down and learn the real ends and outs of electronics (and depending how far you want to go the math and theory behind it all), or you can just stay content with building projects.  And in reality that is a fairly big step that can be frustrating at times.

]]> By: Crashproof http://boingboing.net/2012/12/03/an-introduction-to-the-arduino.html#comment-1597057 Crashproof Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=169581#comment-1597057 Or you can buy a ready-to-use parking sensor for $15. (Or hang a tennis ball from the ceiling.) Much like crafting in Guild Wars 2, you don't do it to save money but for the experience (points). Or you can buy a ready-to-use parking sensor for $15. (Or hang a tennis ball from the ceiling.)

Much like crafting in Guild Wars 2, you don’t do it to save money but for the experience (points).

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