I just bought the book Getting Started with Arduino. I am now trying to define what should be my components shopping list in order to complete the projects on the book. Am I right that I should buy an Arduino Uno Rev.3? Does anybody have the book and can help me with this?
Hi,
You can use any version of Arduino or Arduino-compatible for everything in the book.
Reviewing the book, I don't find any list of components or devices. Massimo covers these classes of devices (excerpt):
---------------------( COPY )--------------------------
Digital Output
We used it to control an LED but, with the proper circuit, it can be used to control motors, make sounds, and a lot more.
Analog Output
This gives us the ability to control the brightness of the LED, not just turn it on or off. We can even control the speed of a motor with it.
Digital Input
This allows us to read the state of simple sensors, like pushbuttons or tilt switches.
Analog Input
We can read signals from sensors that send a continuous signal that’s not just on or off, such as a potentiometer or a light sensor.
Serial Communication
This allows us to communicate with a computer and exchange data or simply monitor what’s going on with the sketch that’s running on the Arduino.
-----------------( END COPY )----------------------
There are many appropriate "Starter Sets" out there from Adafruit, Sparkfun, YourDuino and others.
Here's a look at some of the types of devices discussed, with links to examples:
http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/ElectronicBrickStarterSet
Those are "electronic Bricks" which are easy to connect with 3-pin cables, but more expensive than plain components you would connect on a "breadboard".
See "Arduino: What IS it??" here: http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Arduino-What-IS-it
And here's a set of examples and how to get started: http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/YourDuinoStarter
DISCLAIMER: Mentioned stuff from my own shop also ...
Might I add that a digital multimeter is really an important thing to get?
Lefty
Lefty, really good point!
When I teach this stuff I often start out with, "UhOh.. Electricity is INVISIBLE"..
...and later, "UhOh.. Software is INVISIBLE"...
All the physical and software development tools we have are what make it possible for us to understand this stuff.
Here's an example of a good low-cost meter: http://goo.gl/WSwJN (Pardon the pitch, but I have been using these for 2 years and have provided 150 of them to a school system and everyone likes them.) Nice big display. Tests capacitors and transistors. Nice packing and box (which unfortunately costs about as much to ship from China as the meter costs, if shipped alone.)
DISCLAIMER: Mentioned stuff from my own shop... which is mainly what I know about.
Which country are you from?
This is adescription of a starter kit for the book - https://iprototype.nl/products/kits/december-aanbieding-2012-pro/ -
I am originally from Italy but I am living in Sweden now.
Thank you very much for the tip, too bad I left Nederland een jaar geleden.
Tot ziens.
too bad I left Nederland een jaar geleden.
If you saw the weather here today you wouldn't mind - a shower in the morning, chill wet wind during my lunch walk and a steady rain during the rest of the day 
For Sweden check - http://arduinosverige.blogspot.nl/ - you might ask on that forum. Hur bra är din svenska?
Efter 5 månader blev det ganska bra. I already asked (in Swedish) on the Scandinavia section of this forum, and they said that such a thing as you have it in the Netherlands cannot be found, but they didn't give me this link yet, so thank you again.
I prefer a lot the snow to the cold rain, especially since my memory of it has been formed in 3 years spent in Groningen.
Im on the same boat as you. I just ordered the Arduino Starter pack from adafruit, the 65 bucks one. And i know the only extra thing youll need and will help, is a multimeter, soldering iron and thats pretty much it from what i can think, i dont think we have to use the iron for the stuff in the book since they provide jumper cables.