On topic - I see no much incommon between Arduino and R-Pi. Having IO pins doesn't make it a controller. I guess optimal solution would be having both boards at once, communicating and minding each it's own business. I wonder how soon a communication shield will appear for Arduino-RPi (to stack them together, not utilizing USB). Same goes for Due. I don't believe a computer can replace controller or vice-verso. It's like screwing nails and hammering screws.
It seems to me that this whole debate is about which viewpoint you have.
Fx. I see the RPI as a new Ethernet/Video Shield, while a RPI freak will see Arduino as a new RPI shield (they only have their Gert Board)
I would really like just one thing: Where can Ordinary Mortals actually order and pay for a Due??, so, we are at least in line with the rest of the Planet??
I was at least able to get in the queue for my RaspberryPi and now I have been told that I'll actually get it.. That feels a lot more like I have some connection to the process.
If you want an Arduino with the performance of the Due now, just buy a Uno32:
You can't say that because you don't know what the performance of the Due will be. The processor decision has not been announced.
Exactly 8)
You don't even know which software and hardware incompatibilities there will be between 1.0 and the due.
Unless you are part of the team working on the due; in which case we would appreciate some information ]
All the latest Atmel Cortex-M3 parts have about the same performance, AFAIK.
The PIC32 used on the Uno32 has about the same performance as the Atmel Cortex-M3 that will be used on the Due. The PIC32 only runs at 80 MHz, but it has a five-stage pipeline, whereas the M3 only has a three-stage pipeline. I just can't see there being much difference in performance between the Due, if it ever goes into production, and the Uno32.
A few people have actually got prototype Due boards. Perhaps someone with one of those will provide some timings so that the two can be compared.
The SAM3X offers high-speed USB and Ethernet, which would make the Due better than the Uno32 in some ways. I'd guess that they are using the SAM3X4C:
Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be some time before they are available. I'd say it will be six months, at least, knowing Atmel's habit of announcing new devices long before they actually have working silicon. None of the SAM3X family is available, in fact.
At 84 MHz, the SAM3X will actually be slower than the PIC32 used on the Uno32.
I've been reading up on the 3X chips, they have some really nice features (CAN, LIN, EMAC, DAC, more memory etc) but I'm wondering if they are too complicated for an Arduino.
IF the software library support keeps all the simpler existing Arduino commands, I don't think it's a problem.
IF the documentation has a nice subset for beginners, even better.
IF the Price Is Right then having features/capabilities that many don't use is not a problem.
Consider a Mega today, and the many, many contributed libraries. That has a lot more complexity than most people use. And few use a lot of it at once..
All valid points, just because there is complexity that doesn't mean the average person has to deal with it. In fact that's what the Arduino idea is founded on.
It will be interesting to see how some things go, for example explaining to beginners how some analogWrite() commands produce a square wave and others an analogue voltage. This is where bad choices for function names eventually bites you in the arse. And if you differentiate between a "normal" analogue output and a DAC output what do you call the new functions, realAnalogWrite()
There is the occasional push for "advanced" documentation that doesn't gloss over the hard bits, maybe this will be an opportunity for a bright young lad.
One thing using a 3X will do is squash the constant "generate a random number" threads, it has a TRNG.
For what its worth I received some SAM3X samples today - 144pin. Production is supposed to be July, though Digikey is saying it can ship May24th. The big advantage to the Atmel low cost ARM is integrated Ethernet, USB OTG, ADC12bits and 96Kb ram - and wide Vcc range.