Holiday presents and ideas - Lego Mindstorm NXT

I get a lot of questions from the students (and some parents) on what they should buy for the kids who want to explore robotics and programming on their own. The obvious answer is the Lego NXT which can be purchased online (for example Target, Direct from Lego, Walmart or some random toy store) and (sometimes) at the local Toys R Us (call first). If you would like, buy through the Amazon link (below) and a small portion of the purchase price will go towards funding more kits and materials for WRECK.



As this is Lego, the prices are pretty much fixed - so expect to pay about $280 for the base kit.

Note: This is the Lego NXT 2.0 - which is very slightly upgraded from the model we use at school. Physically, the brick (ask your kid what "brick" means!) is identical - the internal software ('firmware') is slightly different, as is the software which is loaded onto your PC - but for all intents and purposes, this version is the same as the one we use. With the kit you will get a cool color sensor (as opposed to the simpler light sensor in the previous kits), and a different set of Lego pieces, but those nothing is incompatible with the older unit.

Also, be wary of picking something up on eBay or Craigslist - make SURE what you are getting is denoted as the "NXT" - not just simply the Lego mindstorms (or "RCX"). The mindstorms RCX was Lego's first foray into the robotic construction set and, although very capable and useful in it's own right, is very decidedly NOT compatible with the NXT. If anyone wants to dabble in the RCX, I would be happy to discuss the options - but realize that this is an older platform which is no longer commercially supported by Lego, so you will be treading deeply into "hacker" territory (which can be a plus or minus depending on your goals!).

For the person that already has an NXT, you can either buy more sensors and accessories. A great place to look at other additions to the NXT line is the Lego education site.  There is a lot of stuff there for the Lego "power builder". Be wary of the RCX product line which is still alive and well in the educational market - double check what you are ordering (or ask me!) to make sure you don't get something that is incompatible.