Arduino starter

[tavshed]

Any starter kit recommendations for someone new to Arduino?

[Dan Linder]

On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 9:34 AM, tavshed <tav...@tavshed.com> wrote:
> Any starter kit recommendations for someone new to Arduino?

How "starter"? I.e. "I have some C/Perl programming experience but
no electronics experience.", or "I have trouble fixing a burned-out
flashlight"? :)

Dan

--
***************** ************* *********** ******* ***** *** **
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
    (Who can watch the watchmen?)
    -- from the Satires of Juvenal
"I do not fear computers, I fear the lack of them."
    -- Isaac Asimov (Author)
** *** ***** ******* *********** ************* *****************

[Eric J. Kaplan]

Speaking for myself, how about the "I know how to solder and put together a bread board, but my schematic-reading skills are very rusty, and I don't know squat about programming" level?

Sent from Eric's iPhone

[Kevin Fusselman]

I know MakerShed (et al) have a variety of kits that include an Arduino, a breadboard, some various components and a "programming manual", but I can't speak to the quality of any of them.

[David Knaack]

This would probably be useful:

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Arduino-Make-Projects/dp/0596155514 

[patrick]

I have that book and it wasn't very useful for me.

[David Knaack]

Good to know. I have an ebook copy, but haven't spent much time going through it.

What about it did you find unsatisfactory?

[patrick]

if i remember right it seemed incomplete or extremely rudimentary. I'll have to re look at it,

[Kevin Fusselman]

Something to consider, the current version of Arduino (1.0) isn't completely backwards compatible. Because of that, older books might be less useful...

[patrick]

Yeah I'm going to go with Kevins response I'm pretty sure that was the issue i had with that book.

On Friday, June 8, 2012 9:34:31 AM UTC-5, Mike wrote:

[Dan Anderson]

Yeah, it's really basic and there are 1000 web sites that will catch
you up to that level.

I really liked this one:
http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920022244.do
http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Cookbook-Michael-Margolis/dp/1449313876/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

IMO, It's up to date, good enough for beginners and ultimately it will
be the book you want on your bookshelf for reference going forward,
not just an intro book.

Dan

On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 1:10 PM, patrick <patrick...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Dan Linder]

On Friday, June 8, 2012 10:38:08 AM UTC-5, David Knaack wrote:
> This would probably be useful:
> http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Arduino-Make-Projects/dp/0596155514

On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 12:57 PM, patrick <patrick...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have that book and it wasn't very useful for me.

Seconded. If you're at the "I've programmed but never touched a
resistor or breadboard" level, then it's a good start.

I got it when I got my Arduino a year ago. Their wiring diagrams
leave something to be desired, and the one that helps you control a
motor with the Arduino is wrong in where they show the diode to go.
Since there wasn't a true schematic to back up the drawing, it is
impossible for a true beginner to resolve that (without a lot of
luck).

I ended up using Google to find "beginner Arduiono projects" and
started playing from there.

[Luke Dub]

I have the book that David sited, would be glad to pass it along.

[Dan Anderson]

This book is the O'Reilly "Deal of the Day" today.

50% off from their site ($18 for the eBook) with code "DEAL"

Dan