Scratch
archived forums
#1 2009-04-17 21:56:46
- fireball123
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-05-08
- Posts: 1000+
"pico boards" cost way too much
I have just been looking at the pico boards and they are over priced. $50 for an ordinary one. $250 for the kit. I suppose since this is recent technology it costs more, but how do private scratchers who don't get a lot of money get into this stuff?
Also is it worth investing $50 or $250 into a pathetic program like scratch?
___________________________________________________
like a bit of fun? try Fighter Ace
I did it for the Lolz
Offline
#2 2009-04-18 06:04:09
- Paddle2See
- Scratch Team
- Registered: 2007-10-27
- Posts: 1000+
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
fireball123 wrote:
I have just been looking at the pico boards and they are over priced. $50 for an ordinary one. $250 for the kit. I suppose since this is recent technology it costs more, but how do private scratchers who don't get a lot of money get into this stuff?
Also is it worth investing $50 or $250 into a pathetic program like scratch?
I don't think $50 is overpriced. That's about the price of a single Xbox game. And for that price you get the ability to build Scratch projects that actually work with the real world. That's a broadening of your horizons that is probably considerably more valuable than yet another fancy first person shooter game (or whatever).
I'm also curious about your characterization of the Scratch program as "pathetic" - I would appreciate it if you would provide more detail on your interesting position. Thanks!
Offline
#3 2009-04-19 16:38:16
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
fireball123 wrote:
I have just been looking at the pico boards and they are over priced. $50 for an ordinary one. $250 for the kit. I suppose since this is recent technology it costs more, but how do private scratchers who don't get a lot of money get into this stuff?
Also is it worth investing $50 or $250 into a pathetic program like scratch?
___________________________________________________
like a bit of fun? try Fighter Ace
It is not overpriced as Paddle2See said its actually a pretty reasonable price since it allows you to do more with Scratch Programming. When you say Scratch is Pathetic Programming then why do you bother going on or even using Scratch?
Offline
#4 2009-04-19 16:58:46
- technoguyx
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-10-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
Erm, you don't need to spend $250. That's the price for a PicoCricket Kit, completely unrelated to Scratch.
Offline
#5 2009-05-25 16:21:27
- fireball123
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-05-08
- Posts: 1000+
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
Lanie wrote:
fireball123 wrote:
I have just been looking at the pico boards and they are over priced. $50 for an ordinary one. $250 for the kit. I suppose since this is recent technology it costs more, but how do private scratchers who don't get a lot of money get into this stuff?
Also is it worth investing $50 or $250 into a pathetic program like scratch?
___________________________________________________
like a bit of fun? try Fighter AceIt is not overpriced as Paddle2See said its actually a pretty reasonable price since it allows you to do more with Scratch Programming. When you say Scratch is Pathetic Programming then why do you bother going on or even using Scratch?
I bother using scratch because it's free and fun. but say someone buys a pico board, but with scratch you can't do a whole lot so (you spent $50 and got almost nothing out of it (I say this because I'm a kid with a limited income, so a pico board is 2 months allowance.)) The thing with scratch is it's free, and thats why I like it. But when you start putting money into it (beyond a reasonable amount, that money is almost wasted because you've invested money in a piece of technology that is very limited.) It might not seam so big to adults because they have a steady amount of income, that and I'm a mizer 
Last edited by fireball123 (2009-05-25 16:21:52)
I did it for the Lolz
Offline
#7 2009-06-04 00:43:27
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
Hi, fireball123.
You can make PicoBoard by yourself.
The circuit diagram is here:
http://scratch.mit.edu/files/scratchboard/ScratchBoardSchematicR1.pdf
parts list:
http://scratch.mit.edu/files/scratchboard/ScratchBoardBOM.pdf
and firmware of PIC:
http://scratch.mit.edu/files/scratchboard/ScratchBoardFirmwareR1.hex
I guess you can get all electronic parts from RadioShack or mail order. The cost is under $50. And you need PIC writer too.
One Japanese guy made it.
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/kurihara/20090429
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/kurihara/20090505
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/kurihara/20090528
Cheers,
Kazuhiro Abe
Last edited by abee (2009-06-04 01:02:21)
Offline
#8 2009-06-04 17:33:15
- fireball123
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-05-08
- Posts: 1000+
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
thanks! I'll check them out!
I did it for the Lolz
Offline
#10 2009-06-22 13:14:24
- IrishArcher
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-11-25
- Posts: 100+
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
sparks wrote:
does anyone know how many british pounds 50$ converts to at the mo? i'm struggling to grasp what this thing costs. thanks.
It's about 30 pounds.
SmartIrishKid has a multiple personality disorder. I am personality #2.
Offline
#11 2009-07-01 08:32:17
Re: "pico boards" cost way too much
I don't think it is as limited as you might think. For $50.0 you get a light sensor, pressure sensor, and a LOT more. In my opinion, you could make a lot of good quality projects. I think a pico board is something worth saving up for.
Offline