Subject:
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Re: Spybotics vs Cricket
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Thu, 8 Aug 2002 00:38:16 GMT
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Viewed:
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1308 times
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I am somewhat puzzled by the attitude of many people to the Spybots. I think
we must accept that Lego is losing money and that its main audience is
children. It must therefore devote its efforts to its main customer base,
i.e., children. Also, developing software and hardware for Robotics is
expensive and it is very difficult for a company like Lego to deliver
products at a cost-effective price. Having said that I have used most of the
Lego Robot-related products including the Code Pilot, RDS Scout, RCX, DDK
Micro Scout, Cybermaster, and now the Spybots. I have also built Robots that
employ the Cricket and several versions of the Basic Stamp. I feel Lego
robotics products offer three options: Lego construction, Robot software
programming, and an understanding of Robot hardware constructon and
expansion. The degree of support in each product for each option varies
depending on the age group that it is aimed at. I think though that Lego
tends to focus on the first two of my three options. My first reaction to
the Spybots was disappointment and I felt they offered very little beyond
the Micro Scout. Part of the reason for this was lack of Lego documentation.
However, if you take into account the age group the product is aimed at then
this lack of documentation is understandable. Further investigation has
changed my mind. I think the Spybot is a great product that has a lot
potential particularly if you are interested in my middle option,i.e.,
software development. I would like to see Lego upgrade the SDK documentation
to reflect the additions to its scipting language so that we can more easily
exploit the Spybots software capabilities. I think the Spybots are
incredible value for money. I accept that the Spybots have limited
capabilities in the third area of hardware expansion. The RCX is the only
Lego product here that is of value, but I thought that lego had no intention
of dropping the RCX. To me, however, if you are interested in hardware
expansion then this is where the Cricket and the Basic Stamp robots from
Parallax come into play. This is why comparing the RCX to a Cricket and
Basic Stamp Robots is like comparing Apples and Oranges. They are intended
for different purposes and different age groups. However, I am over fifty
and still enjoy both types of product!
In lugnet.robotics, John Barnes writes:
> If Spybotics is evidence of the juniorization disease infecting Mindstorms
> in much the way it has infected other Lego themes, then I suppose the RCX
> could be one the way out. That reduces Lego's robotic's offering to a single
> entity which works right out of the box with no assembly required and no
> expansion capability or options.
>
> If that is the sad future for one of Lego's brightest moments, for I think
> that Mindstorms rekindled a lot of interest in Lego and ended a lot of dark
> ages, then we will just have to take matters into our own hands I guess ;)
>
> JB
>
>
> In lugnet.robotics, Ken Koleda writes:
> > Does this mean RCX 2.0 will go away?
> >
> > In lugnet.robotics, Suzanne D. Rich writes:
> > > Forgive me if this has already been discussed.. I haven't followed all
> > > messages here.
> > >
> > >
> > > I was at TLC's presentation of Spybotics at BF. There, it was described
> > > as, "the next generation of RCX." Knowing it has 2 sensor inputs and 2
> > > motor outs, I wonder how much it's like the Media Lab's Cricket (their
> > > next brick after the programmable brick that led to the RCX). And for
> > > that matter, how it compares to Fred Martin's Handy Cricket (which works
> > > with some, but not all LEGO sensors and is available for public
> > > consumption).
> > >
> > > http://llk.media.mit.edu/projects/cricket/
> > > http://www.handyboard.com/cricket/
> > >
> > > If one were to invest in either Spybotics or a Handy Cricket, what would
> > > you advise?
> > >
> > > -Suz
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Spybotics vs Cricket
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| (...) I think most people understand *why* Lego are heading this way. That doesn't mean we have to like it though. (...) If development costs are the issue then they'd be well advised to come up with ONE truly modular computing solution and use it (...) (22 years ago, 8-Aug-02, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Spybotics vs Cricket
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| If Spybotics is evidence of the juniorization disease infecting Mindstorms in much the way it has infected other Lego themes, then I suppose the RCX could be one the way out. That reduces Lego's robotic's offering to a single entity which works (...) (22 years ago, 7-Aug-02, to lugnet.robotics)
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