On Mon, Aug 12, 2002 at 09:55:33PM +0200, jumanji wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Good thing you cut & shrink, makes it easier for me to reply (lol)

I'll keep at it. I'm really enjoying this discussion. I am wondering what
other folks think of your idea though.

>
> > And excellent examples you've given. The only problem that I have with it
> is
> > that the PICbase isn't usable out of the box. One would have to attach
> some
> > type of I/O to it in order to use it, which by definition would mean
> having
> > to purchase something else anyway.
>
> I don't understand the problem you are thinking about.
> I think this is just a marketing issue. Promote & sell the Edu1 Board with a
> PICbase onboard together 'in a box' as an educational package.Advanced edu
> boards could be sold seperately for example. Similar for a development
> 'package' which could be anything you ppl can think of, plus a PICbase
> plugged in. But don't forget to make the PICbases available seperately so
> ppl can put it in their own stuff.

I know that you'll catch up to my other post in a bit. We have a clear
separation between your completely modular design and my reuable prototyper.

I am glad that you are throwing out some numbers.

Also to repeat (sorry Olin ;-) that the primary purpose of integration is
for standardization, not for education.

>
> > > If its cheap enough you can put a whole bunch of stuff on 1 board.
> > I'm hearing the litany of "keep it cheap". I have one of the cheapest
> > programmers around as it's really nothing more than a glorified cable.
> > But I really feel that it may be an instance of "penny wise, pound
> foolish".
> > That by keeping the focus on cheap, that it strips the target of the very
> > features that makes it useful, valuable, and more importantly supportable.
>
> Ofcourse you are right here, I should have said, "keep it affordable",
> atleast the PICbases then, the stuff you put on the other boards should
> ofcourse have enough features to learn the stuff in a decent manner.
> But for a newbie who isn't even sure he's going all the way, it DOES matter.
> To give an example how one could/would seek affordability:
>
> What do you think a newbie/hobbiest is gonna buy if he would have the
> following choices:
> (just an example, wild guessing on numbers here)

That's what I've been doing! ;-)

>
> Any combination of the following:
> 70$ for EDU1 including a PICbase.
> 20$ for an LCD
> 30$ for EDU2
> 40$ for EDU3
> 60$ for EDU4 (the stuff gets more advanced, so price goes up I think)
> 10$ for a PCB template on which fits a PICbase (not included)
> 15$ for a PICbase
>
> OR
>
> 220$ for a complete training package ? (70+20+30+40+60)

Ouch! I wouldn't even proffer such a beast! I believe that my I/O list in the
other post consists of what you're calling the PICbase + EDU1 + an LCD. Throw
in a breadboard. Call it $100. If others want to offer the EDU[234] separately
that would be fine. But I'm not talking about throwing in the kitchen sink
into the base prototyper, just some very common I/O devices that get used
over and over in projects.

>
> OR
>
> 130$ for a semi-full training package for which you have to find, order &
> solder(in a way that it works :) stuff on to make it complete.

We certainly do not want to go this route. I think the one thing that's almost
in complete agreement is that a completely assembed unit is the way to go.

>
> I think I know what I would pick ;-D (& ofcourse you also know what *I*
> would pick hehe)

Yes. I do know.

BAJ

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