On Sun, Aug 11, 2002 at 07:53:28PM +1000, Roman Black wrote:
> I've been having a little chuckle
> over the way this "super cheap beginners programmer"
> has now developed into the pentultimate development
> kit...

Truth be told I'm hoping for the ultimate development kit at a moderate
programmer's price. It's a really unique opportunity. Plus penultimate implies
that there will be something better! ;-)

Roman,

Under normal circumstances I'd be suggesting that folks simply by Wouter's
WISP628 kit ($17 USD), or if uncomfortable with soldering an assembled unit
($57 USD). Or if they're in a hurry or really cheap simply build my TLVP.

However the chance to get a fully assembled and package unit built with
Taiwanese (sp?) large scale purchased components that will be built, shipped,
and distributed at cost is simply too good to pass up.

> I just know that in two weeks the "PBK" will have motor driver chips,

Too specific.

> hex keypad,

Actully a possibility if a small one can be found cheap enough. Personally
my thinking is that a universal remote makes an excellent portable keypad.


> serial eeprom,

No need. All of our target chips has some measure of data EEPROM on board.
Plus an external serial EEPROM only takes 5 minutes to wire to the breadboard
anyway.

> graphic LCD,

> pc keyboard interface,

> RGB video out...

Again all too specific. The Designer should encompass the set of common I/O
interfaces that many projects will use. I do admit that IR isn't on that list
(selfish motivation ;-) but the others are commonly used.

> ;o)

I hear you chuckling Roman... Since you can design or fix most anything
electronic with a couple of transistors and bailing wire (a trait that I
greatly admire BTW), I know why you're chuckling.

BAJ

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