Thanks for all the information Adrian, I certainly didn't think the talk was boring at all and I don't think anyone else did! That pub was pretty cool, if a little cramped at times but I prefer the term cosy. I missed free sandwiches? Damn :) I'll upload the recording somewhere and send you a link when I get chance. Will probably be the weekend now though I expect. I haven't listened yet so don't know how it came out but it should be reasonable sound quality I think.<br>
<br>Looking forward to the next meeting, nice to see everyone, take care<br><br>Dan<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 10:47 AM, Adrian McEwen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:adrian@mcqn.net">adrian@mcqn.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="im">Neil Bothwick wrote:<br>
> On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:07:01 +0100, Adrian McEwen wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
>> I hope the talk wasn't too boring last night.<br>
>><br>
><br>
> It was interesting enough for me to go to the <a href="http://tinker.it" target="_blank">tinker.it</a> site when I got<br>
> home.<br>
><br>
</div>Excellent :-)<br>
<div class="im">><br>
>> The session in the pub<br>
>> was definitely lively enough to make up for it ;-)<br>
>><br>
><br>
> Once we found an open pub :(<br>
><br>
</div>Indeed. I think you left too early to benefit from the free<br>
sandwiches. Seemed a reasonable second choice after the Old Ropewalks.<br>
<div class="im">><br>
><br>
>> However, it's easier to buy a board that's ready made, and they're only<br>
>> 20 quid. I'd usually recommend getting one of the Tinker.it beginner<br>
>> kits - <<a href="http://tinkerit.myshopify.com/products/beginners-kit" target="_blank">http://tinkerit.myshopify.com/products/beginners-kit</a>> - but<br>
>> they're currently having problems sourcing the breadboards and jumper<br>
>> wires for them, so an alternative solution would be to just buy an<br>
>> Arduino Duemilanove board from Tinker.it<br>
>><br>
><br>
> Those are also out of stock :(<br>
><br>
</div>Damn. I've used all three of the UK suppliers listed at<br>
<<a href="http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Buy" target="_blank">http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Buy</a>>, and they've all been good. At Maker<br>
Faire I met the guy who runs SK Pang and he also mentioned that he can<br>
get any of the Sparkfun items and supply them at UK postage rates. I<br>
see that he's currently got a few Duemilanoves in stock if you just want<br>
a board.<br>
<div class="im"><br>
><br>
>> <<a href="http://tinkerit.myshopify.com/products/arduino" target="_blank">http://tinkerit.myshopify.com/products/arduino</a>> and then nip to Maplin<br>
>> to buy some electronics bits or get something like this starter kit -<br>
>> <<a href="http://bitsbox.co.uk/select.html#starter_kit" target="_blank">http://bitsbox.co.uk/select.html#starter_kit</a>><br>
>><br>
><br>
> I found this, which is more expensive but has a lot more bits, including<br>
> motors and sensors. It uses the seeduino board,are they any good?<br>
><br>
> <a href="http://www.skpang.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=140_143&products_id=411" target="_blank">http://www.skpang.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=140_143&products_id=411</a><br>
><br>
><br>
</div>I haven't tried anything other than the official Arduino boards myself<br>
(although I've had an ArduinoBT, Diecimila and Duemilanove now), but the<br>
Seeeduino looks like a good board. I see from this thread on the<br>
Arduino forum -<br>
<<a href="http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1237938766/9#9" target="_blank">http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1237938766/9#9</a>> that at<br>
least one user likes the Seeeduino. The catalyst pack has got some<br>
interesting looking stuff in it. I'd be interested to hear what you<br>
think of it if you get one.<br>
<br>
The only other board I've heard anything about is the Freeduino, which<br>
<<a href="http://www.nuelectronics.com/" target="_blank">http://www.nuelectronics.com/</a>> sell. It's alright, but not quite the<br>
same quality level as the Arduino boards. (And one thing to watch out<br>
for if you go to the NUElectronics site - the ethernet shield they sell<br>
doesn't have the IP stack on the shield, so it uses more space on your<br>
Arduino)<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
Adrian.<br>
</font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
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