Ok, we agree that wireless is cool. Most/many consumers will end up buying a bluetooth adapter for their PC/Mac. Of course, if Lego supplied it, many would complain that they already had Bluetooth, or that Lego picked an inferior Bluetooth adapter. How many will want a 10 foot range when a 100 foot range is available?
Actually, I think more consumers are going to trip up over using Alkaline AA batteries, when they probably should start with rechargeable NiMHs. It's not that the NXT eats batteries, but that it's too much fun to play for hours.
One of the major hurdles on the RCX was running it the first time. The firmware had to be downloaded. All downloads went from PC/Mac across a cable (USB/Serial) to an IR Tower and then from that IR Tower to the RCX -- the yellow brick that was the brains of the old Lego robot.
The number of ways to goof up that linkage was too much for a lot of kids. Not to mention that it took 5 minutes to download the firmware when it did work.
With the new NXT system, most kids will open the box to find the firmware already in place -- it's stored in the flash memory. If not, a USB cable is required to download the firmware. The USB link is quick, something like 30 seconds to download the firmware. With firmware in place, you have the option of downloading/uploading by USB or Bluetooth. Bluetooth is so much easier than plugging and unplugging a cable that those that have the choice will choose Bluetooth.
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Ok, we agree that wireless is cool. Most/many consumers will end up buying a bluetooth adapter for their PC/Mac. Of course, if Lego supplied it, many would complain that they already had Bluetooth, or that Lego picked an inferior Bluetooth adapter. How many will want a 10 foot range when a 100 foot range is available?
Actually, I think more consumers are going to trip up over using Alkaline AA batteries, when they probably should start with rechargeable NiMHs. It's not that the NXT eats batteries, but that it's too much fun to play for hours.
One of the lucky 100.
NXT has USB vs RCX with IR and the IR is better?
One of the major hurdles on the RCX was running it the first time. The firmware had to be downloaded. All downloads went from PC/Mac across a cable (USB/Serial) to an IR Tower and then from that IR Tower to the RCX -- the yellow brick that was the brains of the old Lego robot.
The number of ways to goof up that linkage was too much for a lot of kids. Not to mention that it took 5 minutes to download the firmware when it did work.
With the new NXT system, most kids will open the box to find the firmware already in place -- it's stored in the flash memory. If not, a USB cable is required to download the firmware. The USB link is quick, something like 30 seconds to download the firmware. With firmware in place, you have the option of downloading/uploading by USB or Bluetooth. Bluetooth is so much easier than plugging and unplugging a cable that those that have the choice will choose Bluetooth.
One of the lucky 100.