NXT 2.0 Inventor's Guide
David Perdue and Laurens Valk have done a remarkable job of creating what amounts to a comprehensive NXT 2.0 "missing manual."
In dedicated chapters the book offers some coaching in building basics (how to use gears, for instance) and NXT-G programming. Also, the building and programming instructions for the diverse (and very cool) models included are loaded with helpful information. The authors have clearly worked hard to anticipate what an NXT user wants (and needs) to know, even going so far as to explain the names of the parts—which is very helpful when looking for parts on Bricklink.com. ("L-shaped thingy" doesn't work).
The only thing that could make this book better is printing it in color; but that would have increased the cost significantly, so they've settled for making the best grayscale instructions possible.
It's definitely a "best buy" for the new NXT user.
Comments
Unfortunately I haven't yet received a copy of the book, but when I have, I'll do a blog post about my contribution to this book.
Laurens
In any case, it will be worth the wait. It's a most excellent book!
I have the original NXT robot kit and will update the firmware to the latest spec from the Lego web site but are there any other differences in the brick?
Plus I've ordered an additional touch sensor and already have the colour sensor but I cannot find out if its possible to obtail the tank tracks or coloured balls etc to make the NXT V1.0 parts into a NXT V2.0 kit...the small body panels are not critical I guess but the balls and launcher guides would be handy...
Do you know how I can find these parts or is lego making these only available to the NXT 2.0 set. The lego parts finder web site does not appear to list them either?
Other than that the book looks great and I'm sure me and my daughter (9 years old) will have lots of fun building the models...perhaps with some mods for missing bits!
Well done on a great looking book
Nick
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=InanimateReason&itemID=15175249