Arduino mega 2560 why aren't all the pins broken out?

Other Hardware 3rd Party Boards
1

I think that when designing a development board it is EXTREMELY important to have every pins broken out because everyone has different needs and it is a waste of hardware to not breakout out pins that some people need take this: Why not mega? for example by not breaking out the pins it made their product not work on your device So why would the arduino mega not have all the pins broken out?

2

I think that is one of lifes little mysteries!

I've made the Video Experimenter Shield work with my SeeedStudio Mega clone.

3

I think asking why is a good thing. However, it requires an open mind.

Engineering is the art of tradeoffs.

No matter how many seemingly good reasons go into a tradeoff decision, it means dissappointing someone.

4

Don't forget that Arduino is not a "Development board" in the traditional usage of the term. It's an Arduino with more pins, not a ATmega2560 evaluation tool.

Seeedstudio has a MEGA variation that breaks out more (all?) of the pins.
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/seeeduino-mega-p-717.html?cPath=132_133

5

The SeeedStudio Mega1280 has an extra row and a half of pins.

And it's cheaper and doesn't use a barrel jack for the power!

6

And check out color of those headers - wow!

7

LOL!

bright yellow!

At least you wouldn't loose it or forget where you parked it!

8

I need to replace my mega. After reading this I think I will get the Seeedstudio Mega2560. Anything to be aware of before I order it?

9

Anything to be aware of

The Seeed board is not going to be compatible with any shields designed to fit the Arduino MEGA.

10

westfw:

Anything to be aware of

The Seeed board is not going to be compatible with any shields designed to fit the Arduino MEGA.

LOL

What shields are ever compatible with a genuine Mega?

Ok, the Mega prototyping shield wont fit....

But at least you can get higher res captures with Mr Nootropic's Video Experimenter shield!

11

I have no shields designed just for my mega. As far as a protoshield goes, I think SeeedStudio covered that with this: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/seeeduino-mega-protoshield-kit-p-597.html?cPath=132_134

12

The SeeedStudio Mega proto shield is a great product!

As for "genuine" Mega proto shields the DFRobot one is great, but stay away from the SparkFun one!

How they could get it so WRONG is beyond me!
Once you solder stackable headers onto it, you can't get to any of the pins!
It's ok if you just want to stick a breadboard on it or not use stackable headers for a project.