> So where I'm learning toward is learning just enough
> so I can buy
> these kind of containers/chips/IC's and use them
> just as I would in a
> program.  From a logic point of view they are the
> same thing as a
> function/procedure/object.  It takes in input and
> gives an output.
> 
  Yes and no. In order to understand the
manufacturer's datasheet you need to learn about
electronics. Skimping through the tutorials out there
won't help. You really need to sit down and study.


> Just with EE, you have more things to take into
> consideration.
> Functions don't care about power usage in fear of
> frying the component
> the in's and out's are defined.
> 
  Development boards are what you are looking for but
the thing about them is that they are VERY VERY
limited. You can't build a board based on your designs
without understanding electronics.

> So I'm wondering am I out of luck, or do I really
> have to spend the
> time learning everything from the principles of
> physics to programming
> a PIC/FPGA/etc, or is there a quicker "if you just
> want to know how to
> connect various things together and make them work".
>  Besides it seems
> most of these components use a serial interface, and
> not sure how an
> i/o line works exactly. Is that the same thing as a
> parallel/serial
> ports data pin for i/o?
> 
  As a programmer I know where you are driving at. You
just can't take a circuit and just implement it in
your own design without understanding the implication
of the integration. Still I enjoy the fact that this
has to 
be created to match my needs.

  In terms of I/O yes. There are other protocols like
SPI , I2C and etc. The protocols are usually used to
communicate between circuits. Wiring a MCU to other
ICs out there is not too much of a problem but it
really depends on the complexity of the circuit.
Flashing LEDS is pretty good start which does involve
minimal electronics knowledge. 

   FPGA does look COOL to play with but you still need
to learn about electronics, well at least in the
digital world*NAND and XOR gates*....... The main
problem with FPGA is the creation of the solution
board which is a nightmare thanks to the IC packaging.
PIC and AVR are usually easier to implement thanks to
PDIP packaging.

John 

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