Posted by

Let's Find a Way: Part 2

One of our readers has submitted a website (via a comment) that offers one possible solution to the NXT 1.0 to 2.0 upgrade... you can read more information here.

A few details I pulled from Bill's website:

"There are three differences between using this kit to upgrade your NXT and buying a new set.

  1. We don't include the sticker sheet, the new color sensor or NXT-G version 2.0 (the CD-ROM). Programs requiring the color sensor would have to be adapted to read grayscale values using your existing light sensor. As for the CD, LEGO has a very restrictive license prohibiting resale of their software. It's written so restrictively, you technically couldn't even include it if you sold your own original kit!
  2. Due to availability, the elements probably won't be the exact same color as ships with the official NXT 2.0 kit. I'll match them when I can, but there are no guarantees as to colors included.
  3. THIS KIT IS $200 LESS THAN THE PRICE OF A NEW NXT KIT. Why rebuy all the parts you already own?
At $79.99, this kit is a fraction of the price of buying a brand new Mindstorms NXT. We created it by comparing the inventories for both sets as listed on Bricklink."

If you purchase this kit, please let us know what you think!

Jim

Comments

Unknown said…
Might be a nice idea, but the most important information is missing on the page: a list that states which parts are actually included. You only get it alongside with the product, i.e., after you have actually bought it.
Honestly, just a statement like "you get over 170 lego elements, including an NXT touch sensor" definitely is far from being sufficient...

It's like buying a pig in a poke (in this case, buying the poke without exactly knowing what's inside).

For me, such a list will be mandatory before I'd even think about spending money for it.
Nov 18, 2009, 1:25:00 AM
Bill Shaw said…
Fair enough. I'm still making a publishable list. To be clear, I have the list but it's not pretty enough to put online yet. It will be published for your shopping enjoyment when it's ready. :)
Nov 18, 2009, 3:02:00 AM
James Floyd Kelly (Jim) said…
Hya, Bill - excellent contribution you're doing here. I felt like your offer needed its own post. I hope you sell quite a few of them.

Jim
Nov 18, 2009, 4:11:00 AM
Bill Shaw said…
Jim, thanks for your kind words (and the separate post!).

I just added an itemized list of the LEGO elements included in the kit to my website.

Keep up the great work! I'm a huge fan of your posts here (and of everyone else who contributes to The NXT Step). Resources like this keep everything fresh and interesting!
Nov 18, 2009, 1:49:00 PM
Unknown said…
Thanks, Bill. :)
Looking forward to the list.
Nov 18, 2009, 6:41:00 PM
NickNackGus said…
Is there any chande that the color sensor software can be made available for programming languages like *.nxc? Or if someone installed linux on their NXT? Would it be legal to make a third party block if the sensor was made by LEGO? (Probably not the last one.)
Nov 18, 2009, 9:59:00 PM
Unknown said…
Tim,

The color sensor actually is supported by some high level NXT programming languages next to NXT-G already: by the most recent version of leJOS NXJ, the Java platform the NXT, for instance, and, as far as I know, also pbLua includes support for it now.
Nov 19, 2009, 12:03:00 AM
NickNackGus said…
I should probably see if I should re-install BricxCC then. They might have new code for it in the languages I use.

I have attempted to use NXJ before, but my computer has trouble with it, and NXC works well for me.

I also use NQC, but I don't think that will be useful on the NXT. :)
Nov 19, 2009, 2:36:00 AM
Bill Shaw said…
Hi Matthias, I tried to post a comment last night to notify everyone the list is now available but I think I fell victim to auto-moderation. :/

I've had the list double-checked by another set of eyes for accuracy. If you notice any omissions, please let me know.
Nov 19, 2009, 1:40:00 PM
Post a Comment

Popular Posts