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For starteres there is this page. And there is also an official SDK from Lego.

if you check the website (http://mindstorms.lego.com/) it claims mac & pc support

Actually the older lego mindstorms kit had an OCX for use with other languages. I remember programming a lightgate in VB once for my physics lab. It wasn't perfect (I had only one light sensor, so the calculations had to be done slightly diffrent, and due to a delay with the signal there was a huge error), but it did work as expected.

Have a peak here for more info:
http://mindstorms.lego.com/sdk2/?domainredir=www.l egomindstorms.com

NeoThermic

It has Mac support this time out.

http://mindstorms.lego.com/?domainredir=www.mindst orms.com

If you look at the high-resolution image, you can see that it has 7 RJ11 jacks and one USB port (top right corner).

The top three RJ11 ports look like servo outputs, the bottom four look like sensor inputs (though the fourth port is unnumbered; wonder why).

But why does it look like an ipod that's been assimilated by the Borg?

http://www1.lego.com/education/default.asp?page=7_ 1&productid=9785

They are somewhat trying to cater for this through their Lego Factory offering. Build a LEGO model using their Digital Designer software, upload it to LEGO and buy a custom LEGO set with all the pieces you need for your design.

It's still not the same of course - building something hands on is where the fun is when you're a kid, not designing it on a computer.

Technic Design School explains concepts behind the Technic line. I don't think there is much wrong with LEGO except perhaps not enough shelf space. But there is plenty available online.

I just wish the Technic crane didn't cost $150.

Specialized bricks are what is killing Lego!

That doesn't even make sense. The kneejerk "back in my day..." comments are usually good for a few points here, but really, think about this. How does offering a severly limited set of options increase sales? If you had all the bricks you wanted, would you continue to buy the exact same sets over and over again? Did you know that they give you the option to choose which bricks you want with goodies such as the the LEGO Factory? Did you even bother reading the earlier comments which address this issue?

Specialized bricks are what is killing Lego!

You apparently didn't look hard. There are still plenty of very good and big technical and designer sets around. For example, check out http://www.lego.com/eng/create/technic/productPage .aspx?family=technic&productNumber=8421 and http://www.lego.com/eng/create/productPage.aspx?fa mily=designer&productNumber=4507

Both very good boxes with lots of very interesting pieces that CAN be used in many interesting ways (like the hinges and other bricks).

Greetings,

You apparently didn't look hard. There are still plenty of very good and big technical and designer sets around. For example, check out http://www.lego.com/eng/create/technic/productPage .aspx?family=technic&productNumber=8421 and http://www.lego.com/eng/create/productPage.aspx?fa mily=designer&productNumber=4507

Both very good boxes with lots of very interesting pieces that CAN be used in many interesting ways (like the hinges and other bricks).

Greetings,

Also note that one can now design ones own Lego project on a computer (http://www.lego.com/eng/create/digitaldesigner/), get a printout of the required pieces, take it to a Lego store and buy the parts needed to make it. So it seems Lego is trying to address the creative aspect as well...

It's getting kinda repetetive hearing everybody complaining that Lego is destroying creativity by offering all these special sets. They still offer a big bucket of bricks at a reasonable price. In fact the big ol' bucket is one of their featured products, meaning they are trying to sell it. It's just that the consumer has mandated all these special little sets with their wallets. Slashdotters may have enjoyed building big complicated things out of simple parts, but most kids don't have the patience for that. For them they tried things like the Mindstorms line (I really assume that more adults played with this than kids.) They even offer lots of bricks by shape or by color if you come up with your own specific plan. If a set increases the companiy's profits, it will continue to be offered.

It's getting kinda repetetive hearing everybody complaining that Lego is destroying creativity by offering all these special sets. They still offer a big bucket of bricks at a reasonable price. In fact the big ol' bucket is one of their featured products, meaning they are trying to sell it. It's just that the consumer has mandated all these special little sets with their wallets. Slashdotters may have enjoyed building big complicated things out of simple parts, but most kids don't have the patience for that. For them they tried things like the Mindstorms line (I really assume that more adults played with this than kids.) They even offer lots of bricks by shape or by color if you come up with your own specific plan. If a set increases the companiy's profits, it will continue to be offered.

It's getting kinda repetetive hearing everybody complaining that Lego is destroying creativity by offering all these special sets. They still offer a big bucket of bricks at a reasonable price. In fact the big ol' bucket is one of their featured products, meaning they are trying to sell it. It's just that the consumer has mandated all these special little sets with their wallets. Slashdotters may have enjoyed building big complicated things out of simple parts, but most kids don't have the patience for that. For them they tried things like the Mindstorms line (I really assume that more adults played with this than kids.) They even offer lots of bricks by shape or by color if you come up with your own specific plan. If a set increases the companiy's profits, it will continue to be offered.

This kit has or had potential to hook kids into robotics, but IMHO they should emphasize extending a "video game" interface into real life peripherals (ie, doing something in a "video game" experience causes something in real life with Mindstorms something like augmented reality).

Actually, Lego did something similar to this with their Spybotics system. I never really tried it myself, but saw it demoed in stores. If I recall correctly, you used it to build a little vehicle with a processor simpler than the Mindstorms', which you used to perform various "covert missions." Unfortunately, it seemed like it was a little -too- simple, and you couldn't actually use the kit to build anything other than the intended vehicle.

There are some great sets that Lego still makes.

The Designer series is top notch and a current favorite of mine. Sure there are some custom pieces here and there but the majority are hinges and cosmetic blocks that can be used in many interesting ways. The models are great too; I've got a T-rex by my monitor at work and a (sadly discontinued) crab sitting on my system at home.

The Technic series is still going strong from the eighties. What's not to like?

The City is like the LegoLand sets of old that you probably remember. There are a few other lines that are in the same vein but those little yellow people don't interest me as much as they did when I was a child.

And the new Factory series are designed by fans. I'm strongly recommending that you check them out.

Lego is a for profit company and will continue to manufacture what sells. Licensed products like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Dora the Explorer are making them money so they will continue to make them. They have had moderate success with their annoying Bionicle line so it is still being added to. All is not lost yet; Lego is still making some decent and interesting products, so go out and support those.

P.S. You can also get buckets of regular blocks. Think about that the next time you want to buy that Star Destroyer.

There are some great sets that Lego still makes.

The Designer series is top notch and a current favorite of mine. Sure there are some custom pieces here and there but the majority are hinges and cosmetic blocks that can be used in many interesting ways. The models are great too; I've got a T-rex by my monitor at work and a (sadly discontinued) crab sitting on my system at home.

The Technic series is still going strong from the eighties. What's not to like?

The City is like the LegoLand sets of old that you probably remember. There are a few other lines that are in the same vein but those little yellow people don't interest me as much as they did when I was a child.

And the new Factory series are designed by fans. I'm strongly recommending that you check them out.

Lego is a for profit company and will continue to manufacture what sells. Licensed products like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Dora the Explorer are making them money so they will continue to make them. They have had moderate success with their annoying Bionicle line so it is still being added to. All is not lost yet; Lego is still making some decent and interesting products, so go out and support those.

P.S. You can also get buckets of regular blocks. Think about that the next time you want to buy that Star Destroyer.

There are some great sets that Lego still makes.

The Designer series is top notch and a current favorite of mine. Sure there are some custom pieces here and there but the majority are hinges and cosmetic blocks that can be used in many interesting ways. The models are great too; I've got a T-rex by my monitor at work and a (sadly discontinued) crab sitting on my system at home.

The Technic series is still going strong from the eighties. What's not to like?

The City is like the LegoLand sets of old that you probably remember. There are a few other lines that are in the same vein but those little yellow people don't interest me as much as they did when I was a child.

And the new Factory series are designed by fans. I'm strongly recommending that you check them out.

Lego is a for profit company and will continue to manufacture what sells. Licensed products like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Dora the Explorer are making them money so they will continue to make them. They have had moderate success with their annoying Bionicle line so it is still being added to. All is not lost yet; Lego is still making some decent and interesting products, so go out and support those.

P.S. You can also get buckets of regular blocks. Think about that the next time you want to buy that Star Destroyer.

There are some great sets that Lego still makes.

The Designer series is top notch and a current favorite of mine. Sure there are some custom pieces here and there but the majority are hinges and cosmetic blocks that can be used in many interesting ways. The models are great too; I've got a T-rex by my monitor at work and a (sadly discontinued) crab sitting on my system at home.

The Technic series is still going strong from the eighties. What's not to like?

The City is like the LegoLand sets of old that you probably remember. There are a few other lines that are in the same vein but those little yellow people don't interest me as much as they did when I was a child.

And the new Factory series are designed by fans. I'm strongly recommending that you check them out.

Lego is a for profit company and will continue to manufacture what sells. Licensed products like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Dora the Explorer are making them money so they will continue to make them. They have had moderate success with their annoying Bionicle line so it is still being added to. All is not lost yet; Lego is still making some decent and interesting products, so go out and support those.

P.S. You can also get buckets of regular blocks. Think about that the next time you want to buy that Star Destroyer.

50 2x4 legos for US$6.00 (Lego Shop) 14 cents a piece. Enjoy.

I must have my Lego Death Star Hard Drive!

Lego has re-released several old sets through the years. Unless I'm halucinating, I seem to remember them re-issuing the Black Seas Baracuda pirate ship last year. You just have to keep your eyes open.

If you really want one of the old sets, try something like http://www.bricklink.com/ and just buy an old one. Or if you are feeling ambitious, build it yourself. Legos are interchangable, after all. :) Find the instruction sheet online at somewhere like http://peeron.com/ and go buy the bricks in bulk from http://shop.lego.com/.

Their goth Dragon Fire line of products looks so good, my six years old totally fell for it (to my despair). I have been a long standing Lego fan and I really hate the plastic Mega Bloks are made of, but I have to give it to them, the visual design of some of their products is superior to Lego to the point that the original is starting to copy the fake... Just compare http://www.lego.com/eng/vikings/Default.aspx compared to http://www.megablock.com/en/products/description.p hp?level=2&level2=1&level2=1&lId=0&iID=166&subCat= 3 (sorry for the long link). I started noticing the Dragon Fire line of products when it came out and at that time, Lego didn't have a comparable products, now they do ...

Well, the only other option you have is LEGO, and it completely sucked when you get two flat LEGO pieces stuck together. That frustrated my parents to no end as they had to get a razor blade to pry the two pieces apart.

What you needed was an official Lego Brick Separator. It separates pieces without denting or cutting them (or yourself) as could occur if you used fingernails, tools, etc. Also, it prevents one of the more common problems of children swallowing pieces while trying to separate stuck pieces with their teeth.

This is a great thing, as Legos (whoops! I meant "Models built of Lego bricks") have, as of late, descended into lame branding excercises in order to shift product. Other than the wonderful Technic kits, Legos (whoops!) have become crappy toys that happen to snap together.

Hopefully, now that Lego has been forced to allow interoperation, other more innovative building brick companies can fill the void.

Or maybe not.

This is a great thing, as Legos (whoops! I meant "Models built of Lego bricks") have, as of late, descended into lame branding excercises in order to shift product. Other than the wonderful Technic kits, Legos (whoops!) have become crappy toys that happen to snap together.

Hopefully, now that Lego has been forced to allow interoperation, other more innovative building brick companies can fill the void.

Or maybe not.

This is a great thing, as Legos (whoops! I meant "Models built of Lego bricks") have, as of late, descended into lame branding excercises in order to shift product. Other than the wonderful Technic kits, Legos (whoops!) have become crappy toys that happen to snap together.

Hopefully, now that Lego has been forced to allow interoperation, other more innovative building brick companies can fill the void.

Or maybe not.

This is a great thing, as Legos (whoops! I meant "Models built of Lego bricks") have, as of late, descended into lame branding excercises in order to shift product. Other than the wonderful Technic kits, Legos (whoops!) have become crappy toys that happen to snap together.

Hopefully, now that Lego has been forced to allow interoperation, other more innovative building brick companies can fill the void.

Or maybe not.

This is a great thing, as Legos (whoops! I meant "Models built of Lego bricks") have, as of late, descended into lame branding excercises in order to shift product. Other than the wonderful Technic kits, Legos (whoops!) have become crappy toys that happen to snap together.

Hopefully, now that Lego has been forced to allow interoperation, other more innovative building brick companies can fill the void.

Or maybe not.

After skimming TFA, this idea seems all well and good. However, this immediately brought to mind Lego Mindstorms.

Besides, with Legos, you don't have to have power tools. Just your handy dany digits.

Actually, those are Duplo Lego blocks to be more specific. They're meant for pre-schoolers and are larger than standard Lego bricks. Some standard Lego bricks will fit on Duplo blocks because the top buttons are hollow on the Duplo blocks (the large peg in the middle at the bottom fits inside the top buttons).

Would that be why they have this on their corp site?

A Trademark must be Protected
A trademark must be able to distinguish the goods of one company from those of another. If a trademark loses this ability, the owner may find that it can no longer prevent others from using the trademark. An owner must prevent the improper use of its trademarks to prevent the public from being deceived. This is why the LEGO Group is very active around the world in making sure that its trademarks are not misused.

No, I meant these guys.

No, I meant these guys.

No, I meant these guys.

No, I meant these guys.

No, I meant these guys.

But i'm a super lego fan and did not know you can order bulk legos! where exactly can we do that?

LEGO's online / mail-order catalog store offers lots of bulk assortments of various kinds of parts, so if you need a bunch of red 2 x 4 bricks (for example), you can get them there. They also have a variety of bulk tubs and buckets that have substantial quantities of basic parts in basic colors; these are widely available.

There are also brick-&-mortar LEGO stores that offer "pick a brick" shopping, where the store has a bunch of bins each full of loose bricks of a different shape and color, and you can pick as many or as few of each brick type as you want, just like some candy stores. Not all the stores have pick-a-brick, and the ones that do don't offer every single brick type for sale in this way (they couldn't possibly, given the huge variety of shapes and colors - they'd need thousands and thousands of bins at each store), but they do have enough to offer a really decent opportunity to get certain desired bricks cost-efficiently. LEGO stores in the US offer pick-a-brick by selling you a cup (in one of two sizes), which you fill to the brim with as many bricks as you can of whatever type you want from the bins; LEGO stores in Europe offer pick-a-brick in a different (even better) way, by letting you fill a plastic bag with as many or as few bricks as you want, and selling it to you by weight, just like those candy stores.

But i'm a super lego fan and did not know you can order bulk legos! where exactly can we do that?

LEGO's online / mail-order catalog store offers lots of bulk assortments of various kinds of parts, so if you need a bunch of red 2 x 4 bricks (for example), you can get them there. They also have a variety of bulk tubs and buckets that have substantial quantities of basic parts in basic colors; these are widely available.

There are also brick-&-mortar LEGO stores that offer "pick a brick" shopping, where the store has a bunch of bins each full of loose bricks of a different shape and color, and you can pick as many or as few of each brick type as you want, just like some candy stores. Not all the stores have pick-a-brick, and the ones that do don't offer every single brick type for sale in this way (they couldn't possibly, given the huge variety of shapes and colors - they'd need thousands and thousands of bins at each store), but they do have enough to offer a really decent opportunity to get certain desired bricks cost-efficiently. LEGO stores in the US offer pick-a-brick by selling you a cup (in one of two sizes), which you fill to the brim with as many bricks as you can of whatever type you want from the bins; LEGO stores in Europe offer pick-a-brick in a different (even better) way, by letting you fill a plastic bag with as many or as few bricks as you want, and selling it to you by weight, just like those candy stores.

Elementary School? THESE?

Elementary School? THESE?

Elementary School? THESE?

Take a look at this lineup. Think these folks went to prom? http://www.lego.com/eng/factory/design/bios.asp

Don't you think the very reason Lego is popular is because it allows people DYI in many ways?

Can you provide data to support this? Any linkage?

It doesn't take much searching to find lots of information about their losses, but here's a link...

http://www.toynewsmag.com/newsitem.php?id=59

And a PDF of their financial statements from their own site...

http://assets.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/LE GOAboutUs-PressReleases/otherfiles/2057/upload85B7 540F-B204-4D2F-91DB-4FF4E7B5244D.pdf

Adults with credit cards can use the Intarweb thingy to order what they need direct:

http://shop.lego.com/Product/Factory/About.aspx

KFG

Take a look at this lineup. Think these folks went to prom?
http://www.lego.com/eng/factory/design/bios.asp