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[on:]

Hi,
I am beginning to explore Arduino. I was speaking to a guy at a party and he recommended this book as a good starting point:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Things-Talk-Practical-Connecting/dp/0596510519/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1311174423&sr=8-10


I've ordered it and I was wondering if anyone has read it and if so can they recommend a good kit to buy to compliment the book? I was looking at this:
http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=596&gclid=CPTnwqebkKoCFQEf4QodnCTlwQ

Advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Bunzy

[Reply #1 on:]

I am hoping to get Making Things Talk for my birthday. From what I have heared, it is a higher-tech arduino book. 'Getting Started With Arduino' sounds like a better book for getting started with arduino:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Started-Arduino-Make-Projects/dp/0596155514/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311194212&sr=8-1

(Although I have not read it).

Onions.

[Reply #2 on:]

What is the best book to start with, depends on your level in programming and general electronics. Let say, Massimo Banzi Getting started with Arduino link is better for beginners.
 For advanced programmers Arduino Cookbook by Michael Margolis link is preferred.
If you already decided to go with Make Things Talk, then I don't think you need a kit. Book mostly describe a projects build around a shields, so you would need an arduino board and network / wireless / gps / distance ranger / locations / identification RFID / etc shields.

[Reply #3 on:]

Thank you to you both for your answers. I had a look at the book you recommended Onions and I might get that as well.

With regards programing experience/level I'd say I'm ok - I understand C and Objective-C, the latter I use for making iphone Apps. I also know a bit of Action Script for the occasional Flash project. But my professional background is in the visual arts and it is my love of both programing and sculpture / installation art that is attracting me to play with Ardrino.

Magician, I'll have a look at The Arduino Cookbook and see how I fair with that as well. Though, no matter what I'm learning I like to start at the bottom as strong knowledge of the fundamentals avoids problems later on.

Thank you both for taking the time to consider my question and for sharing your knowledge on the subject. It's much appreciated

Best regards,

Bunzy 

[Reply #4 on:]

I just started out with Arduino too (about 4 weeks ago) I got a bread board kit from Oomlout [url][http://www.oomlout.co.uk/starter-kit-for-arduino-ardx-p-183.html]. I found it useful because I don't know much electronics and have a bit of Java under my belt, which helps with the Arduino IDE side of things. It comes with lots of experiments and all the bits. There is a version without and Arduino too I believe - if you've already got one.

Cheers

[Reply #5 on:]

Sorry I botched that URL

here it is again:

http://www.oomlout.co.uk/starter-kit-for-arduino-ardx-p-183.html

[Reply #6 on:]

Thanks Trendski,
That looks like a really good kit (to my untrained eyes) I've held out getting the board as I'm aware their are different type and wanted to know a little more before I bought. This look like a good place to start though!

Thanks