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Dec 11, 2008
Is the NXT really just a toy?
Don't get me wrong, I love the NXT, and "evangelize" for it everywhere I go; but what I'm not loving is LEGO's seeming lack of commitment and responsiveness to NXT owners. Even as a member of the MCP (MINDSTORMS Community Partners), nothing I've seen has changed that view. The primary reason I've stayed on the MCP (as the only woman, mother or non-professional scientist) is to speak up for "everyperson." But, I have to tell you, I don't think I'm making much headway.
For "rocket scientists" this may be just a toy, but for parents it's an expensive investment in their child's future. The corporation that invested thousands of dollars in kits for my local schools doesn't look at it as a toy. Yes, it's a fun way to stimulate interest in engineering---but that doesn't make it a toy. (And they don't want to see their HUGE investment in the team's travel turn to ashes because of an glitch in the system.)
If LEGO and LEGO Education didn't actively encourage its use in competition and education, they might be able to use the argument that it's just a toy, but even so, this mother doesn't think that's an excuse for ignoring the consumer.
Why can't I buy replacement or supplemental parts for NXT and TECHNIC kits? After two years on the MCP, I still don't know! Why does LEGO depend solely on volunteer advocates for problem solving?
I'd like to hear from the whole NXT community (not just the MCP). Is the NXT "just a toy?" Are you happy with LEGO support? Is it no big deal if a robot inexplicably fails during an FLL competition? Do anyone else feel taken for granted---or put down, for raising an issue or complaining?
JimK would like to add: As a former MDP and now MCP member, I have used the "it's a toy" argument before, but that was typically used to remind my colleagues that we should always keep in mind the major audience for the NXT - kids. It is a toy... and it isn't. It's an exceptional learning tool and we SHOULD speak up when it doesn't work as desired (meaning NXT-G or something as simple as a Touch Sensor). One of our jobs on this blog is to encourage discussion and point out the GOOD and the BAD in our favorite robotics kit. I'll join Fay in asking our readers to chime in here and talk about the NXT and its life-cycle - is it a mature product? Does it have problems? Where can the kit go from here? What can LEGO do to increase the success of the kit? When will we have micro-commerce (official, not BrickLink) for replacing not just electronics but that single, lost 15L beam? Where is Waldo? (Oops... wrong blog.)
39 comments:
A product is not a toy just because the primary target audience is children. My Son uses a computer in his third-grade class to do assignments and take tests. Does that make the computer a toy?
There are many third-party programming languages designed to interface with the NXT, many of which are based in C or Java, and is beyond what most younger children can comprehend. I believe this extends beyond the realm of a toy.
I find the lack of direct support from Lego interesting. Their FLL and other robotics programs through schools have prompted high levels of NXT sales world-wide, though when the robot is inconsistent or seems to have an internal programming error, I have to throw it out to independent forums for help, which has wonderful people willing to offer advice and support, though I would think that Lego would step up and take a more direct role in supporting such a widely use product.
With the increasing complexity of the FLL 'games', and the countless hours that FLL coaches spend with the kids, I think it reasonable to not think of it as a toy, and to expect the consistent performance and support that we would expect from any technical device.
- Dec 11, 2008, 5:38:00 AM
Lego is just a toy company, irrespective of whether the 'toy' is much more.
[free market rant]
Business is about making money not about your kids future.. (my kids not yours)
Charge what the sucker will pay, not what it costs.. (Market driven pricing)
Change the standards frequently, you'll sell twice as much.. (standards are for making money)
Always keep the best stuff for the five year business plan.. (move back every year)
Give with one hand take with the other.. (something new doesn't have to be better)
[/free market rant]
Basically if you want to talk to any Business do it with MONEY.
Ask yourself can you outspend the 'must have that DeathStar' spenders? No? they can't hear you... (After all, it costs more and doesn't have software to update!)
Just like NXT replaced the RCX, the new version will be along soon and you'll all pay Lego for it. You know you will. So do they.
The future of all things good, like linux, is in the hands of the dedicated volunteers. Change your firmware do so much more. Run an unofficial unlimited Firmware Class in FLL!
- Dec 11, 2008, 5:39:00 AM
- Alkarex said...
I use NXT both as a toy and as an efficient fast prototyping platform for robotic concepts. In both cases, I am quite annoyed to have to rely mostly on (the very good) BrickLink and eBay to buy the pieces I need, with the inherent varying prices, international shipments, and having to buy from many different places for a few bricks, when these are not out of stock all together.
- Dec 11, 2008, 5:40:00 AM
- Rick Rhodes said...
VEX robotics has a tech support number that they run from 8AM-5PM Monday-Friday. Why can't LEGO?
If live tech support results in too many overhead costs, then why not provide email tech support? Or how about contractual support; e.g., paid support for a specific time period?
I'm speaking as an ordinary consumer. (Rocket scientists will always find a way to fix things themselves).
- Dec 11, 2008, 6:31:00 AM
- Brian said...
+1 on the need to have an easier way to replace parts. I think I would prefer them to come in a "NXT plastic parts replacement set" (so I have a few spares) rather than one beam at a time. I would rather spend $20-40 dollars and get a fistful of replacement parts for all of our school's kits, rather than painstakingly identifying them brick by brick and ordering them in one-sies and two-sies.
What can be done to improve the NXT?
1. Stop using a proprietary plug for the wires, use instead a standard RJ-12. (People are so desperate they are cutting and gluing their own, or cutting the end off a standard jack and then using plastic wrap to keep it in, C'mon, Lego is the sole provider of the plastic parts, do they have to try and be the sole provider of the wires as well?)
2. Add a SD card so there is more memory. (Would be nice for larger graphics, more audio, and dare I say it... video)
3. Headphone jack on NXT so that external speakers can be plugged in (yep, sometimes I want it LOUDER)
4. Separate the batteries from the controller. (So the screen and buttons can be placed in a spot appropriate for them (such as the top), and the batteries in a different place (center of gravity - bottom))
- Dec 11, 2008, 6:54:00 AM
- Eric D. Burdo said...
Brian, +1 for those ideas. I really like the idea of a SD card port, and the separation of the battery from the controller.
Currently, I haven't had to deal with LEGO on any support issues yet, so I can't comment there. But the extra/replacement parts? Yeah, it would be nice to buy a pack of common parts.
- Dec 11, 2008, 7:28:00 AM
I've been debating with myself on this issue, as I have other hobbies and don't do robotics for a living. Big question I ask myself: Is it worth my time to play with NXT or not? How I get around this is that I like robotics and find robot competitions fun to watch and inspiring. My brain is stimulated in good ways that I don't get otherwise from other tasks. But, those large robots built for destructive competitions are expensive and I don't have time to participate in groups. So, playing with NXT is the way I go and it stimulates areas of my brain that help me be innovative in my job (water quality research).
- Dec 11, 2008, 7:52:00 AM
- megamindstorm101 said...
" but for parents it's an expensive investment in their child's future."
ha ha my parents dont know that...yet :) It took quite a long time for me to convince them to let me buy it. but after 3 years of hard work trying it finnaly paid off.
I AGREE lego is not any toy. It bugs me too how people at school (who I highly dought could do anything with this) say ha ha you still play with lego. The brand is really whats making people think it is just a toy. I have yet to see a small child 5 or 6 or so to make something cool with this thing. It just doesnt happen. Therefore it isnt a toy. also I have never heard of a toy with over 20 languages to program. and robots that help solve complex tasks. Many people use this to learn the basics of robotics and I dont think stuff to teach is considered a toy. Actually whenever I mention the NXT to my parents when I say I want to order something I call it a highly educational product. They disagree they think its just I toy like lots of others.
- Dec 11, 2008, 8:30:00 AM
- LayTor said...
Once upon a time I asked for a replacement part. LEGO was quick to respond they would soon deliver... I have yet to see this part or any store credit. They allow open source
software. But don't encourage anything other then what they can up and spin out.
If you can use a toy for a tool or a tool for a toy. If you encourage a kid to learn or adult to explore GREAT! Look for ways to make it better. LEGO seems like a costly toy or a cheap tool. I do wish that the parts would separate(a display, standard USB ports we could use, a separate battery box, a vision system. BUT IT NEEDS TO WORK CROSS PLATFORM! I still can't get Bluetooth or Vista support!
- Dec 11, 2008, 12:09:00 PM
I love legos. I got back into them when I first heard about a microprocessor brick coming out in 1998 by popular science.
Is it a toy? Yes!
All of my robots, although quite complicated are just models and tests of what I might want a robot to do. I believe toys which educate and go beyond simple fun are GOOD TOYS, and thats what my legos are.
I am disappointed with the Mindstorms software. It was the first time I paid for a patch and its still buggy.
- Dec 11, 2008, 1:46:00 PM
- megamindstorm101 said...
they "sell" a patch for mindstorms software? and for some reason (i guess I got lucky?) I never had any problems with nxt-g that ruined my program. The biggest I got was that pop up that said cant save. That was easily solved by copying all the blocks and pasting them in another panel and then saving that.
NXT is definatly once again IMHO not a toy. I have yet to see a toy that does stuff that this does. I dont think its a toy no matter what peopel say. But dont worry im not going to bite you if you disagree that wouldnt be nice.
- Dec 11, 2008, 2:07:00 PM
- NXTMonger said...
I'd say that the NXT could be a toy or not be a toy. If you are making a NXT-NXT remote-controlled car
it would be a learning tool (learning about programming) or a toy (an RC car).
In FLL it definitely is not a toy.
If you are in a spelling bee, would you call a dictionary a toy?
If you are in a robotics competition, would you call the robot a toy?
The NXT is branded as a toy automatically for laymen:
(duuuuuuuh... lego. Isn't that fer babies or sumfink? duuuuuuuh...)
Well, not necessarily, anyways. Only if you use it as one.
- Dec 11, 2008, 2:51:00 PM
- LinearActuator said...
NXTMonger has a very good point, it depends on how you use the NXT which classifies it as a toy or not.
Also, It depends on whether or not you think of it as a toy. If one person believes the NXT to be a toy, they will use it as a toy, as that is what they think it is. If you use it as an educational tool, then that is what it is to you.
I currently go to High School, and anyone who you talk to about the NXT brick automatically tags it as a robotics kit and not a toy, even though other LEGO products are toys – are used for amusement and nothing more.
As for the replacement of parts, I was missing a piece from a model I bought a few months ago, and they sent it to me in New Zealand in about 3 weeks. Obviously missing parts compared to lost parts have a higher priority on LEGO's list of things to do, but if you purchase a part, they should still send it in the same manor and time period - you are a paying customer after all.
I was just recently discussing the fact that LEGO seems to rely on volunteers in a community to sort out their product's issues, they even link to blogs like the NXTStep on the LEGO MINDSTORMS homepage – almost like they want you to go to these sites and ask the community for help. (Not that that's a bad thing ;-))
But I cannot see Microsoft or other big corporations getting anywhere if they had no product support, if the product was too hard to operate and no support was given, customers would just move on and buy another product, and potential customers would be put off by the lack of service from the company.
- Dec 11, 2008, 4:02:00 PM
LinearActuator, I agree with you totally.
How you use NXT depends on your perception of NXT. If you perceive it as a toy, you use it as a toy. If you perceive it as a tool, you use it as a tool.
Besides, shouldn't toys help people learn?
In the past 30-40 years, toys have become just toys, up to the point where they don't help people learn.
Toys should help people think, or learn skills.
I play strategy board games and computer games. I don't consider them a waste of time. Why? I enjoy them and they help me to think things out strategically and manage units, resources etc.
I use NXT and play with Lego. Why?Im enjoy it and because NXT helps me to program and Lego helps lateral and cognitive thinking.
(Most) Toys should help people have fun, but learn at the same time. People now have thrown all that out and now buy plastic garbage.
- Dec 11, 2008, 8:33:00 PM
- Noel Maywald said...
Hooray! Someone has finally been brave enough break out of the fog of euphoria into the sunshine of reality. Well done Fay. I'm with you.
I too am an adult fan of LEGO. Having had a great experience with RCX (I have 3 of them) I was expecting a good deal better from NXT. However, after a short time of NXT usage (I have 2 of these) it became obvious that all was not well. True, there were some really excellent advances. But there were also reverses (there are some things RCX does far better) and these took the shine off the experience. Of particular note is NXT-G. Many of its failings have been noted but many have not. As a professional programmer, if I had to use NXT-G ... well I wouldn't. So to answer Jim Kelly's question about life cycle, No, I don't think it is any where near mature. The concept is brilliant but the implementation leaves a lot to be desired.
Regarding Fay's problems with MyBlocks I have very little experience to offer because I avoid them like the plague. The concept is good but what is the good of a piece of reusable code if you can't edit it? (And no, the MyBlock editor does not allow a lot of edit functions.) When I want a subroutine I implement it with a task. Its not pretty but it works.
I don't think it matters a lot whether or not Mindstorms is a toy. What concerns me is the way in which the phrase "just a toy" is used. In most cases it is used to excuse some failing or weakness of the product. The real concern is the implication that it is all right to provide our children with toys that don't work properly or don't meet expectations. It is interesting to note that we seldom hear phrases such as "its only a race car" or "its only a jet ski" or "its only a Hollywood movie" and yet all of these are toys desingned to give fun and entertainment. Their manufacturers put in huge amount of money and effort to ensure the highest quality. I really like Ole Chrisiansen's (LEGO founder) attitude. When he was making wooden ducks he wasn't thinking "its just a toy". He was thinking "only the best is good enough". So is Mindstorms a toy? By the usual understanding of the word, yes. But what a wonderful toy it is, for not only does it provide fun and entertainment for children and adults, it is educational, promotes creativity and has spawned a community the likes of which few other toys could claim. Being a toy should not diminish the effort to make it outstanding.
If there is a "LEGO company ear" out there or someone who has access to one, I would dearly love to provide you with details of my ideas, praise and criticism. Feel free to contact me. Mindstorms is a great product but there is still a long way to go both with the product and LEGO's approach to their customers.
- Dec 11, 2008, 9:31:00 PM
- Kirk Backstrom said...
Is the NXT a toy or not? I think this question misses the point. It is like asking if pieces of wood are a toy or not - they can make toys, furniture, etc, etc.
And the comments that it depends on what you use it for is what defines it is closer to the truth. But I think we should generalize what it is a bit further:
It is a material/tool for the rapid creation of products -- a tool that can be used to make toys, competition robots, lab apparatus, prototypes, and the list goes on. You have designers at the LEGO company that take the components and use them to make toys like Alpha Rex, and you have many others that take the components and make competition robots in FLL. I think that the NXT is what we make of it (literally), and there is much proof that it can be used to do so much more than just make toys.
Well done LEGO for having such a great tool available and please do all that can be done to perfect the product (i.e. software). Ten years has past with 2 outstanding robotic platforms (the RCX and NXT), so why not go even bigger (see Brian Davis' suggestions above) for the next 10!
- Dec 12, 2008, 12:04:00 AM
- GreetingsGQ said...
From Lego Customer Service you can order individual replacement parts.
From Lego Education you can get part packs.
- Dec 12, 2008, 1:02:00 AM
- Fay Rhodes said...
I can see that LEGO Education is starting to carry more packs of parts, but they are also charging extremely high prices.
For example, LEGO Education sells axle 7's in a pack of 50 for $10. On Bricklink (a re-seller), they can be had for less that a penny a piece.
From what I can see, there is the same kind of high pricing for all the parts packs.
- Dec 12, 2008, 2:00:00 AM
- Fay Rhodes said...
I follow the link to LEGO customer service (for replacement parts) and am directed to fill out a form that does not exist---at least not on my Mac.
I'm not trying to be difficult; but this is just another example of not really paying attention to the customer.
- Dec 12, 2008, 2:08:00 AM
- Jim Kelly said...
I'm extremely interested in prototyping, especially the concept of fast prototyping (Watch Prototype This! on Discovery - great show), and I'd like to see the NXT advance further into letting hobbyists use it for this purpose.
On one of my last visits to a LEGO Store (with fellow blogger Chris Smith) I was really disappointed to see the LEGO block bins where you could buy individual LEGO blocks in all shapes, sizes, and colors... in whatever quantities you wanted... but not for Technic.
I'd like to see a similar setup in LEGO Stores where they have Technic bins with gears, beams, connectors, and more, all available for purchase individually.
When I'm working on a project that requires visits to the hardware store, I'm impressed that I can buy something as unique as a single bolt or locknut... let me do the same for my NXT kit and Technic parts (online or in a store) and my toy has now become a prototyping tool.
- Dec 12, 2008, 2:55:00 AM
- BlueToothKiwi said...
What is a toy? I decided to consult the oldest Collins Dictionary we had in the house from last century (not the online one which has the meaning contaminated in recent times)
Toy = An object designed to be played with.
Well. The Wii & PSP my 8 year old plays with, the NXT kit my two teenage boys (and my self) plays with - and all the mobile gadgets I play with - they are all toys based on the above definition.
All of those toys I mentioned are bought from companies (Sony, Nintendo, LEGO, Apple and others....) that are facing the economics of a downturned economy with reduced revenues with increased customer service cost.
We can sit here and whinge about the lack of support as the manufactured who thinks it is a toy.
But Believe me - the LEGO MINDSTORMS employees do not think it is a toy - I learned that pretty early on as an MCP!
Some of the members of this team at LEGO have dedicated a big part of their adult life making NXT the prime choice for parents who care about the mental development of the kids, and schools that care about improving the life skills and team work skills of kids.
Yeap - some of the issues with NXT are pretty annoying.
But as a father, mentor, coach I think a NXT kit is one of the top 3 'toys' of the last decade.
just my 2c
- Dec 12, 2008, 7:26:00 AM
- Dave Parker said...
Another observation is that if viewed as a traditional toy (and a lot of the younger kids and unknowning parents I talk to think of it that way), the NXT is not a very good one. It is expensive, difficult to build with, there is no remote control, you can't have much fun without doing some real programming, and the AlphaRex model on the front isn't nearly as capable in person as it look on the box.
For $50 you can get a RoboSapien type thing that will be way more fun for someone looking for a traditional toy.
I can't tell you how many kids I talk to at our schools who say they want that "LEGO walking robot" they saw a picture of. Luckliy most parents see the price and say "no way" to these kids. On the other hand, many well-meaning (and well-heeled) parents buy it hoping for an educational toy for their kid who wants the walking robot. Then it sits on the shelf after the demo robot got built and that's it. This is the primary reason I created www.nxtprograms.com. There has to be some bridge between the young kid who wanted the walking robot and the future engineer inside who just wasn't ready when they got it. But I think we still have a long way to go here.
- Dec 12, 2008, 8:06:00 AM
- 222Doc said...
Lego is expensive for a toy , true. But as a robotic platform it is VERY inexpensive. There would be no way i could ever afford any other platform and build so many odd contraption for this kind of money and so easy to prototype.
Lego ed has things that i would only buy from them,example new pneumtics, switches gears to name even a few, rams 2 for 10$ is much less than any BL store, but things like beams pins axles, are way less at BL. Covet'emptor
- Dec 12, 2008, 8:36:00 AM
- megamindstorm101 said...
well to keep it all going. I do have to admit with everyone else that it does depend on how you use it and look at it. Personnaly I have never heard of a toy that can be made into a (lego)car factory. But heh thats just me maby there is one *shrugs* :P . But if you look at it like me as an educational product that will take me and introduce me to robotics where I can really make money off of robots. I hate those peopel who program little programs and then tell me im not smart because im just using a toy to learn what I want. Sure they can learn to program from things like visual C++ C# ect. but they shouldnt let me down since im using a "toy". If I gave them one of the sets they probably would use it as a toy and not do much. You give me another one I would make monster machines with massive things. (one thing I think would be cool is making an rc monster car with 3 NXTs remote with 1 and car with the other 2. If I gave it to someone who uses it as a toy they would probably build 3 small robots and not think of the monsterous possibilities. I think it isnt a toy the "kid down the street" may think it is. But brands fool you.
- Dec 12, 2008, 9:49:00 AM
- Mike1 said...
I don't take LEGO Mindstorms NXT set as a toy. The Mindstorms line was supposed to be a line of "toys" but turned out to be different after the RCX. The very first robots with using LEGO was definently not "toys" "Toys" would probably not include a few hundred dollars set that can be programed from NXC, Java, and the simplest NXT-G. A standard "toy" would not include the research of students at MIT developing this line. A "toy" would not have a large community of thousands of fans that make forums, websites, and invest countless hours and money into the NXT.
But LEGO certainly did not fill in all of what it needs to do, such as not providing a better programing enviorment, not enough replacement parts, and most of all, it never (ok, rarely) has accepted many of the ideas we want.
I have the habit of typing big blocks of text so to summurise what I said, I don't think LEGO NXT is a toy and LEGO should provide more help and take in our ideas.
- Dec 12, 2008, 9:56:00 AM
- Bryan B said...
Wow - there are some really high expectations of LEGO in this thread.
If MIT is involved, then it isn't a toy? NO WAY. Some of the smartest people in the world sit around and make toys. These people are called engineers and they graduate from schools like MIT.
LEGO should take in our ideas? Easy: MUP, MDP, MCP1, MCP2, MCP3, and Ambassador Program. Seems to me they listen to the ideas of people that use the NXT.
LEGO should provide more help or have an 8 - 5 support line? Most "support" you get nowadays over the phone for a product either involves an ongoing contract or they ask for your credit card when you call. Additionally, would that be 8 - 5 Eastern Time...because that is more like 1 PM - 10 PM Denmark time. And, are you "really" using the NXT 8-5 or in the evening? Maybe it should be a 24 hour help line with 10 operators.
Sorry everyone, but it sounds like a lot of people need to step back and get a little perspective on this. It IS a toy. LEGO is a company that can't GIVE away services or they will go broke. And, just because you build a robot and it doesn't do what you intended, it does NOT mean that there is something wrong with the NXT or NXT-G.
I think you all ought to go sit down and play with your NXT for a while and remember how much fun it is.
- Dec 12, 2008, 1:09:00 PM
- Rick Rhodes said...
The VEX support line was an example of technical support, not a one-to-one analogy for what LEGO ought to do.
FLL teams in particular could benefit from direct support, in my opinion--and there are various ways to do it.
The fact that LEGO is a toy does not obviate the need for LEGO to be forthcoming about system bugs that crop up from time to time. I could name a couple right now, if they were relevant to the post.
I think most who post to this blog think that the NXT is one great toy/machine/tool/hobby/computer. But there are pluses and minuses in relying on the user community alone for some of these problems.
Now, on to another post!
- Dec 12, 2008, 1:37:00 PM
- Fay Rhodes said...
Perhaps it is FLL who should be providing some more organized technical support. It might even the playing field a bit.
Another idea is born...
Saturday workshops for new FLL coaches in Oklahoma. We are really new at this out here.
- Dec 12, 2008, 8:18:00 PM
- Bryan B said...
Rick - Please name your specific suggestion for technical support so I can address the underlying cost issue for it. I can make a similar argument on any form of tech support. So, don't take my sarcasm too literally.
Fay - Now that is a wonderful idea. FLL would only have to provide support for a few months a year. They should have a coaches forum where you can get the help of fellow coaches AND experts. The only hitch is that most of the supposed experts are also coaches. So, they are busy with their own teams.
- Dec 12, 2008, 11:33:00 PM
My dad gave me my copy of One Kit Wonders early instead of Christmas! Woot!!! I don't know which robot to build first but I like all of them. I hope NXT STEP keeps doing more books and I'll buy them. You are the best NXT blog on the Internet.
- Dec 13, 2008, 12:17:00 AM
- Dave Parker said...
FLL itself, I have heard, is "Four people in a small office", so they can't handle much support. All the real work is by volunteers everywhere. There is in fact a FLL coaches forum, and that is where a lot of questions get answered. Check out the forums on the FLL web site and come join us there! Also, some regions have a coaches email list for announcements and info sharing.
Unfortunately good tech support is too expensive for even most for-profit companies nowadays. They get flooded with questions that are not even flaws in their products. This is why tech support is usually outsourced and is usually pretty bad. At least the internet communities give us some help, if you can sort out the real help from the rumors, random gripes, and "the blind leading the blind"!
- Dec 13, 2008, 3:50:00 AM
The local affiliates should be providing the support. But it will have to be done by volunteers because my state FLL fees are almost nothing.
In Minnesota we offer building and programming classes at the start of each season. We also have a mentor network. Need a programming expert? Just call and one will show up on your door (shudders remembering countless cold basements, frantic kids and icey roads).
Interestingly few people take the classes or request a mentor. Our problem is getting coaches to admit that they're drowning and need help.
- Dec 14, 2008, 4:27:00 AM
- Max Vrany said...
Toy/Not Toy
It's BOTH! It's a toy for everyone and a tool for everyone.
It feels like Lego should sell two versions of NXT, one to be used as a toy and one to be used as a tool.
Other improvments could include making the sensors and motors wireless, making two kinds of motors, one for power and one for control, a touch screen interface, a better text entering interface.
- Dec 14, 2008, 4:55:00 AM
It's what you want it to be. Mostly a fun tool for most, A very cool toy for not so many. Lego could have done a WAY better job on NXT-G, Integrating Great programs like RoboDNA, RoboRealm and NXT-Remote into it. They also could have done a better job making sensors and motors smaller, look at the RCX. Lego also should've worked more on sensors and things like remote controls. There are lot's of third party things out there but not everybody (myself included) feels quite as safe with them as with Lego. It's sorta like if your dad said "Jump off this cliff, I can promise you you'll be safe." You'll still think twice about it but most people wouldn't jump off if a stranger had said that. The way it is now I think that the Mindstorms is for slightly advanced users and not for people that need computer support just to connect two Bluetooth devices (which has me scratching my head ALOT). All-in-all the NXT is a very good device that needs some followup before it can be considered a toy.
- Dec 14, 2008, 9:47:00 AM
The contoller and sensors are fine but they are held together by a plastic construction kit so it's a bit hard to try and shrug off the "toy" label.
Those balls in the kit used as castors are pathetic. Shame they only provide 2 reasonable wheels with the nxt.
If they improved the mobility/wheels options in the kit I would have been more impressed.
- Dec 15, 2008, 7:10:00 AM
LEGO Education North America offers technical support, Monday through Friday, from 8AM-5PM CST. Their toll free number is 1-800-362-4308.
They also offer a wide range of replacement parts via their website, www.LEGOeducation.com. Simply click on the Tools, Resources, and Parts link in the left nav bar.
In addition, LEGO Education North America offers a Resource Set for the NXT that includes an enormous array of specialty and standard Technic elements for the brand's leading robotic set.
If you should run into problems with your programming or find you need a few extra elements to complete your robotic project, give them a call. They're more than willing to help.
- Dec 16, 2008, 1:50:00 AM
I will admit it takes a bit of looking, more than you'd think necessary but spare parts are readily available at http://shop.lego.com/PAB/. As mentioned by others, if don't have enough parts with your base kit, get the educational resource kit or the technical resource kit from legoeducation. With these you'll have plenty of parts.
- Dec 18, 2008, 3:10:00 PM
While I was surprised somewhat by the variability my NXT exhibits, upon reflection I have to admit it performs remarkably well for what it is, basically an advanced toy. But toy or not it is a device that has limitations and constraints including in the programming environment.
Personally I'm quite amazed at what you get for the price. I think folks are expecting way to much at this price point especially considering the relatively smaller market for higher end toys of this type.
I don't think it is reasonable to expect lego to provide technical support beyond resolving defective parts issues or at least free support. In any case given the experience level of many users I doubt this would be a cost effective area for lego to enter. The average user would rack up the full price of the kit in no time. I probably would have taken advantage of it myself. Frustrating yes, but that is pretty much the reality of buying a $200 toy.
- Dec 18, 2008, 6:20:00 PM
- Anthrakia said...
The NXT (and the entire Mindstorms series) is indeed a toy. However, it is not JUST a toy. The NXT was designed for children for entertainment purposes with an emphesis on education. However, it has the capabilities to be used for more serious applications, such as formal education and competitions.
- Dec 31, 2008, 1:40:00 PM


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August is that time of year when the summer slowly rolls to a finish in the form of muggy humid weather, lazy picnics, and relaxing by the pool. To celebrate these final hot days of the year, we have been holding a Beat the Heat Sale for the past few days. However, just as the summer eventually has to come to an end, so does this sale so don't wait until tomorrow to buy high quality resin garden statues, beautiful animal garden sculptures, and other unique decor for home, garden, and office. Order anything from Design Toscano today and you can still get:
- $20 off purchases of $100 to $199.
- $50 off purchases of $200 to $399, and
- A $100 discount on purchases of more than $400!
The hefty tiered discounts offered with this sale make today an excellent time for ordering a few extra Greek garden statues, holiday and birthday gifts for family and friends, and high quality Halloween decor. Buy the creepy Outbreak of the Undead Zombie statue and a fantastic Zombie at the Door Wall Sculpture and you can take $20 off. Add the gorgeous Saint Benedict's Library Table to your order and you enjoy a $100 discount! Don't wait to place your order, though, because this sale ends today, August 16th!
Find the best in unique statues and decor at Design Toscano.
This sale expires on August 16th, 2013 and cannot be combined with other offers.


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The SLU community has donated almost $57,000 to the United Way campaign, more than halfway to its $95,000 goal.
United Way of Greater St. Louis provides funding to more than 170 agencies that strengthen families, invest in children, build safer neighborhoods and support the elderly. For a list of all the agencies they serve, visit the United Way website.
Instead of focusing on one single cause, the United Way focus on hundreds of them, helping the community as a whole. United Way funds deserving organizations that make a lasting and important impact on the region.
For questions or problems contributing, please contact Carolee Patek at firstname.lastname@example.com or 314-977-2381.


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Los Angeles, CA
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Celebrities and sun are always out in full force in Los Angeles. Beautiful beaches, famous Hollywood actors, cutting-edge development and some of the most eclectic neighborhoods found in the world, make for no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles. The second-largest city in the U.S. prides itself in its rich ethnic diversity, and LA is a top destination for foodies and travelers wishing to experience a wide array of world cultures and dining—all in a single stop.
Downtown Los Angeles is seeing a large-scale revival highlighted by the opening of the first phase of the $2.5-billion entertainment complex, LA Live, in October 2007. With the 2009 completion of the second and third phases, downtown now boasts a 40,000-square-foot, open-air Nokia Plaza, a 54-story Marriott-owned hotel and a $100 million movie theatre with 14 screens and seating for over 3,500 moviegoers. Future expansion projects include the construction of Farmer's Field, a state-of-the-art stadium with an estimated price tag of more than $1 billion—all in hopes of luring the NFL back to the City of Angels.
Area restaurants continue to rival the best in the country, enticing hungry visitors with the city's delicious Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern, Thai and Latin-American cuisine. Popular outposts by celebrity chefs Rick Bayless and Gordon Ramsay consistently up the ante when it comes to cooking: Bayless' Red O in West Hollywood tempts diners with a Mexican raw bar offering a variety of ceviches and fresh seafood-like oysters and tuna; and Ramsay dishes out contemporary classics, such as steak tartine, at the London West Hollywood.
Getting outdoors is a must for every itinerary. Whether you're browsing the racks at boutiques Confederacy or Y-Que in the hip enclaves of Silver Lake and Los Feliz, or spending the afternoon at one of two dozen nearby beaches, Los Angeles's temperate climate makes it easy to spend entire afternoons outside. Point Dume, north of Malibu, offers a respite from snarled traffic jams and Hollywood egos with its quiet beach and hideaway atmosphere. Tall cliffs and rocky coves provide a breathtaking panorama, and beachgoers relaxing between the months of December and April shouldn't be surprised if they catch a glimpse of a California gray whale or two in the Pacific's waters.
No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a stroll among the stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. See tributes to the likes of Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali and Matt Damon, then take the 20-minute walking tour of the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. If you fail to have a real run-in with your favorite actor or actress, Madame Tussaud's has the next-best thing: life-like wax sculptures of Hollywood's most famous stars. Snap a photo next to Denzel Washington, Clark Gabel or Johnny Depp, and fool your friends and loved ones back home with your unforgettable Hollywood encounters.


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Latest Videos
Robotic cheerleaders are cute, uniquely Japanese
Murata's balancing robots are back and this year they're working as a team. The Japanese electronics maker demonstrated its synchronized rolling cheerleaders at the Ceatec exhibition outside Tokyo.
Humanoid robot signs with rubbery hands
Aiko Chihara is welcoming guests at Toshiba's booth at Ceatec outside Tokyo and can communicate in sign language.
Hands-on with Microsoft's new Windows 10: UI changes that look great at first blush
At this point, Microsoft's next OS is literally a work in progress. But some of the changes in UI are available to view, and they're both lovely and productive.
Video: Apple's iPhone 6 goes on sale around the world
From Tokyo to Boston to Palo Alto, IDG News Service's Nick Barber and Martyn Williams cover Apple's iPhone 6 launch.
Inside Levi's Stadium, high-tech home of the San Francisco 49ers
The new $1.2 billion Levi's Stadium offers fans the type of high-tech game experience you'd expect from a sports venue in Silicon Valley.
The Navy flew its new drone across the U.S. Wednesday night
The drone is part of a new Navy system that will provide global coverage of the seas.
The new Moto X review: Finally a flagship phone worthy of a Motorola comeback
With the exception of a mediocre camera, this may be the best Android phone you can buy.
QNAP TS-251 NAS box review: Fast and versatile, but short on memory
High-end NAS boxes tend to be expensive. QNAP's latest is the most capable in its price range, but it comes with a few caveats.


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To make way for a microbrewery on Busselton's foreshore, the Nautical Lady Lighthouse Tower, adjacent to the famous Busselton Jetty, had to ...
WA Police have the biggest search in the state's history on their hands to find clues into the disappearance of prospector Jennie Kehlet, ...
Perth's weekend warriors relive the swordplay and skills of older times in the Barony of Aneala, part of the Society for Creative ...
The small fishing and tourist town of Lancelin earmarked as 'extreme priority' for a new tourist park, but it could be destined for the ...
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- Displaying photos tagged E Ink [back to index]
PocketBook CAD Reader equipped with E Ink Fina
Photo: Company, Dec 4.
CES 2011: Hanvon 9-inch, high-resolution WISEreader
Photo: company, Jan 10.
Sony e-book reader, the PRS-650 Touch Edition
Photo: Company, Sep 14.
Sony e-book reader, the PRS-350 Pocket Edition
Photo: company, Sep 10.
Sony PRS-950 Daily Edition e-book reader
Photo: company, Sep 8.
Color EPD controller co-developed by Seiko Epson and E-Ink
Photo: company, May 20.
Verizon announces Samsung Alias 2
Photo: PR Newswire, May 13.
Pen input meets electronic paper displays with E Ink and Wacom solution
Photo: PRNewswire, May 20.
Interactive key fob from Delphi using E-Ink's segmented electronic paper display
Photo: Business Wire, May 12.
Finetech Japan 2008: E-ink 10-inch color e-paper
Photo: Digitimes, Apr 21.
E-Ink cooperates with Epson on e-paper
Photo: Digitimes, Apr 18.
E-Ink shows electronic paper (e-paper)
Photo: company, Oct 24.
2013 Taiwan Internationbal Lighting Show
LED firms around the world are participating in the Taiwan International Lighting Show from March 26-29.
Date: Mar 29.
Chenbros offers a range of server chassis.
Date: Jul 17.
The exhibit is taking place at Nangang Exhibition Hall from June 19-21.
Date: Jun 21.
Ultrabooks are the major focus at Computex this year.
Date: Jun 7.
SEH and Sumco, global top-2 silicon wafer suppliers
Date: Mar 23.
Date: Mar 22.
Affected PCB- and BT resin-making plants in Japan
Date: Mar 22.
3-Jul-2015 markets closed
|TSE electronic
|OTC electronic
- Euro dips as officials strive to head off Greek exit (Jul 1) - Reuters UK
- Samsung accused of disabling Microsoft security updates (Jun 25) - BBC News
- Shareholders call for Toshiba head to quit (Jun 25) - The Financial Times
- US raises cyber concerns with China (Jun 25) - BBC News
- Chipmakers renew pleas to Congress for trade bill (Jun 16) - New York Times
- Cisco to make $10B investment in China (Jun 17) - Computerworld
- What's really driving all this semiconductor M&A (May 28) - Wall Street Journal
- US Fed moves towards rate rise (Jun 17) - BBC News
- Samsung to ramp up shipments of OLED panels, DRAM and flash chips to channels
- Supply chain players gear up for new Nintendo console
- CSOT expects new 6G facilities to enter mass production in 1Q17
- China market: HD leads over Full HD in May smartphone sales, says firm
- Taiwan market: Huawei to launch 7-inch tablet with dual-SIM feature; Aaeon releases new ruggedized tablet
- Global cellular baseband chip market rises 27% in 1Q15, says Strategy Analytics
- Digitimes Research: Taiwan makers hold advantage for wearable PMOLED orders
- MediaTek declines to comment on merger rumors
- Digitimes Research: Japan home entertainment market sees Sharp rise with new 4K solutions
- Annual direct current distribution network implementation revenues expected to reach US$5.1 billion in 2024, says firm
- LG to outsoruce part of reinforced glass processing, says report
- China market: Meizu launches flagship smartphone MX5
- LandMark Optoelectronics to list on OTC
- Solartech, Danen June revenues up sequentially
- Acer opens BYOC experience center in Taiwan
- GET to outsource production of solar-grade silicon wafers to Eversol
- Japan-based vendors see decreased digital camera shipments in May, says CIPA
- Taiwan solar cell makers should consolidate, says Motech CEO
- Wei Chi Energy, APPSRC co-develop hybrid battery system for electric vehicles
- Ichia Technologies sees June revenues drop on year
- China market: Xiaomi ships nearly 35 million smartphones in 1H15, says report
- China market: Xiaomi appoints new CFO
- Vendors seeking alternate solutions for metal notebook chassis
- Digitimes Research: China smartphone shipments see weaker-than-expected growth in 2Q15
- Acer to form 1,000-member team for BYOC business in a year
- Releases
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- Indium Corporation features ultra-low residue no-clean Flip-Chip Flux at SEMICON Taiwan
- Indium Corporation's patented BiAgX: A drop-in replacement for high-Pb solders
- Echoing Government's Productivity 4.0, IoT Automation Boosts Taiwan's Competitiveness
- ASUS selects Pixelworks' Iris mobile display processor and True Clarity enhancements for ZenPad tablet
- Etasis promotes new 350W 1U slim redundant power supply to market
- AccuTouch Five Wire Resistive Touchscreens
- Getting the Most Out Of Your Next Generation Digital Security Surveillance System
- Embracing the New Generation Intel Atom Family with DDR3 Memory Support
- Got The Message? Ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of content across a mission critical digital signage network
- Emb' Store On-Demand Software Service for Embedded Computing
- Digitimes Research: China smartphone shipments see weaker-than-expected growth in 2Q15
- Digitimes Research: Intel 28nm SoFIA 4G AP delayed to early 2016; may face overlap issue with 14nm version
- Digitimes Research: White-box players pushing 10.1-inch Windows tablets
- Silicon providers main beneficiaries of enthusiast PC growth; opportunities exist for vendors to raise profits with innovative products, says HWinsights
- Digitimes Research: Dell high-end LCD monitors may be 24-, 27-inch models
- Zoom Storage looking to become media library for mobile device users
- AMD unveils sixth-generation A-series APUs for mobile products
- Computex 2015: Startup company Endless pushing PC for developing countries
- Computex 2015: Nvidia unveils GTX 980 Ti and G-Sync technology
- Computex 2015: BioLogic SportCase wins Design and Innovation Award
Gigabyte to stay competitive in VGA market with new technology: Q&A with Eddie Lin, associate vice president of Gaming Product Business Unit
Competition in the graphics card market has grown fierce as demand for graphics cards from the gaming...
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Although the company has not been operating in the gaming notebook industry for long, Gigabyte Technology...
- Smartphone and tablet industry: The view from Taiwan - May 2012
Taiwan-based companies have a long and successful history of involvement in the supply chain for mobile devices, which for the purposes of this article consist...
- Taiwan motherboard industry overview - May 2012
The year 2011 saw the motherboard industry reverse its trend of declining shipments year-on-year, to post a slight 0.2% growth. This upturn in fortunes was expected...
- Notebook market overview - Jun 2011
The notebook industry in 2010 experienced several major events that significantly changed the industry's ecosystem for the year and the industry is also believed...
- LCD TV overview - Jun 2011
Growth of the global LCD TV market was not as strong as expected in 2010 as the market continued to feel the aftershocks of the economic recession that had hit...
- Wireless broadband developments in Southeast Asia markets
As of 2013, the 10 ASEAN nations had a total of over 700 million mobile subscriptions, with the CAGR from 2003-2013 reaching 24%. This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes the various mobile broadband markets in ASEAN and looks at the respective trends in 4G LTE development for those markets.
- 2015 global tablet demand forecast
This Digitimes Research Special Report provides a 2015 forecast for the global tablet market and analyzes the strategies of key market players such as Google, Apple, Intel, and Microsoft.
- 2015 China smartphone panel trend forecast
This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes the strategies of key China-based major panel makers BOE, Tianma and IVO for attacking the different market segments through technology and pricing, and their relationship to local vendors Huawei, Lenovo, ZTE, Xiaomi and Coolpad.


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Mr. Marlin Stacey Gregg, 48, of Starkville, died Friday, March 9, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.
He was a member of Starkville Church of God, an avid sportsman and fan of Mississippi State sports.
Mr. Gregg is survived by his son, Robbie Gregg of Noxapater; special friend, Melissa Eisman of Gulfport; father, Mantee Gregg of Starkville; sister, Rhonda Miller (Wayne) of Sturgis; and several nephews and a niece.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, in the Welch Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Hank Anderson will officiate.
Burial will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Welch Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, P.O. Box 297, Starkville, MS 39760.
You may go online and sign the guest registry at http://www.welchfuneralhomes.com.


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|Network switch strobing or flashing continuously in Internet, Network & Security
|Got any broccoli? in Jokes & Funny Stuff
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Posted 08 November 2012 - 21:35
Posted 08 November 2012 - 22:10
I am older now, maybe not necessarily wiser but, I like moving my mouse to the upper left corner and going to the Bing search, the one that takes up the entire screen but I love how it lays out all the news right there in front of me by search topic. I'm still finding new things out about this OS but it's working for me.
I'm set in my ways but it seems to me that this os is quite intuitive and the two interfaces ( Modern UI and Desktop) are nice. I did however buy and install Stardocks Start8 app that puts a start menu on my desktop. Still works for me over all but Windows 8 or this windows in particular is setup just as I like it.
Posted 09 November 2012 - 01:45
Posted 09 November 2012 - 01:52
Unlike a lot of folks, I never found the lack of Start menu a deal-breaker, largely for the simple reason that I had begun migrating away from relying on it with Windows 7.
Posted 09 November 2012 - 04:55
Lack of? Just move your mouse to the bottom left corner and left click.. viola, Start menu.
Posted 09 November 2012 - 05:42
Windows 8 has made a mess of Bluetooth -- my Big Jambox is now a $300 paperweight.
Posted 09 November 2012 - 10:30
I just installed (upgraded) it yesterday from Win7 Ultimate to Win8 Pro, and so far it seems to be a pretty decent OS. I do miss the 'Recent Items' on the start menu I had in Win7, but everything else is working just fine.
Posted 09 November 2012 - 23:17
For recent items open file manager "C:\Users\"your user name"\Recent" then just make a shortcut to your desktop.


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Don't-Miss Utility Software Stories
Load up your new iPhone with great apps
If you're the proud owner of a new iPhone, you may be wondering which of the million or so App Store offerings to put on your smartphone. Don't fret -- we have a couple of recommendations.
Paul Haddad on Tweetbot and Calcbot
We spotted Paul Haddad of Tapbots at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, so we asked him about two of his company's iOS offerings.
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July 22, 2013
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Action/Adventure, SciFi/Fantasy
Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister's place to enter the games, and is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy when she's pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Rated PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images - all involving teens.
Visit the official site
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth
Produced by: Nina Jacobson
Directed by: Gary Ross
Written by: Billy Ray, Suzanne Collins
Running time: 2hr 22min
Opens: Mar 23, 2012 Nationwide


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Moderators: Tonyblack, Jason, Toothy
Del wrote: You DO know that symptoms can last or come on up to a week later.
CrysaniaMajere wrote:a bit strange today. Sunday morning I slipped and banged hard my head on a cement wall outside the house.. since I'm me, my first thought was Let's hope nobody saw me. I really doubt that's what I needed to make me any smarter, but I'm okay. Head hurts a little now, but it's still whole
I even forgot to say happy birthday to my brother, which was sunday (same day as Dug, isn't it, so happy belated birthday to you too), and did it a bit late, but better late than never
Del wrote:Please do crys . And what's the worse that can happen... they tell you you are okay.
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Open innovation to put data to work
Businesses are maxing out their data centers, running inefficient systems that can't handle the demands of today's big data economy. With mounting security and technology concerns, you need the confidence and cost advantages to realise cloud's true benefits, leverage the creativity of the open-source community, and accelerate application development.
On April 28, join the IBM webcast, "Open innovation to put data to work," to hear how IBM Power Systems' open servers and solutions break physical and virtual boundaries to help you drive faster insights.
Register now for the webcast to learn how to put your data to work!
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Making the extraordinary possible for 50 years
April 8
IBM senior executives, senior business and IT leaders, researchers and the next generation of IT will gather to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mainframe – and highlight how IBM System z helps you innovate and transform your business in the new world of mobile, cloud, big data and analytics.
Get a glimpse of the game-changing future of this trusted computing platform.
Is your data taking you further, or just taking up space?
April 10, 2pm EDT
Without analytics, the big data you're gathering is just collecting dust. Even midmarket companies can get buried in data.
Join Chris Dawson, senior contributing editor, Ziff Davis, in a lively, interactive discussion sponsored by IBM to learn about the latest user-friendly analytics solutions that can deepen the value of your information.
Are dynamic hybrid clouds the best of all possible worlds?
March 11
In the latest installment of the "What's Next for IT?" video debate series, leading IT experts explored the role of the hybrid cloud – costs, use cases, security, infrastructure and more.
Moderated by Kevin Jackson, author and founder of GovCloud, the debate also featured Laura DiDio, ITIC principal; Steve Strutt, IBM cloud computing CTO, UK and Ireland; and Michael Salsburg, Ph.D., Unisys distinguished engineer and chief architect.


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Her 10 Best Looks: Nicole Kidman
Credit: Getty Images
Nicole at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards
6 of 11
In Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture.
Tags: 10 best, fashion, nicold kidman, red carpet style, Top 10
In Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture.
Oops … we forgot what this album cover looked like until right now. …
Word broke that Kourtney Kardashian broke up with Scott Disick after nearly a decade of dating today, and we think we know why – these photos of Disick getting touchy-feely in Monte Carlo with his ex-girlfriend, Chloe Bartoli. According to E! News, Disick's candid photos with Bartoli were the last straw for Kardashian in their rocky…
Kourtney will no longer sit beside The Lord on his pretend-throne.
V couple turned real couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis got married over the weekend, according to a report in People picked up by several other media outlets. The stars reportedly wed during Fourth of July festivities, though neither has confirmed the news. Kutcher, 37, and Kunis, 31, played adorable couple Kelso and Jackie o…