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Re: I would like to

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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On Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:19:36 +0100, Andre wrote:

> Enter the embedded worold but where do I start? Wich hardware is best
> for a beginer, (I am retired, so it's only for fun??) which tools are
> best ( with same remarcs ) where to buy them, cost?
> BTW: I live in Belgium
> Maybe other questions, answers??

Subscribe to Nuts & Volts, Circuit Cellar, or Elektor.  Elektor is Euro, 
and comes in both a Dutch-language and a French-language version, so 
depending on which flavor of Belgian you are you can get the 'zine in the 
language you want to read.  Or, you can get the English-language version.

Even though I'm a professional, I subscribe to Circuit Cellar.  I do it 
mostly for the ads, because there's a lot of engineers at small-volume 
companies that read it, so there's a lot of useful advertising content.  
But the articles and columns are definitely worthwhile, too.

As far as the actual hardware and software, that depends a lot on you: do 
you want to do Big Embedded, little embedded, what's your technical 
background, etc.  Certainly when I start a project one of the first tasks 
is selecting a suitable processor.

My top four to consider would be:

The Arduino.  I've never used it, but you've heard a sample of the good 
things I've heard of it.  I have an acquaintance in the area that does 
consulting who uses the Arduino routinely for little one-off jobs.

The Basic Stamp.  (If you can still get it).  It's a PIC that's been 
programmed with a Basic interpreter.  You write in a Really Easy language 
so you get started quicker, but it's a Really Limited environment, which 
means that at some point you're in a clear box with no food, looking at 
some really enticing stuff just outside.  (See my "effort vs. toolchain" 
post for my opinion on this).

One of the ARM Cortex M3 or M0 parts.  I recommend this with trepidation 
because they're big and complicated, but with enthusiasm because once you 
get your head wrapped around them they'll do _anything_ you want, and the 
price differential between one of them and an 8-bit processor is modest.  
Yes, you'll do more screwing around trying to get something to work -- 
but you won't find yourself trying to shoe-horn the thing for speed or 
memory size.

A plain old PIC.  Only 35 easy-to-learn instructions (that used to be 
their slogan -- hah).  They called it "RISC" processor, but it's really a 
NHISC (Never Had an Instruction Set Computer).  But -- it's not a bad 
processor as long as you never use a decent one.

-- 
My liberal friends think I'm a conservative kook.
My conservative friends think I'm a liberal kook.
Why am I not happy that they have found common ground?

Tim Wescott, Communications, Control, Circuits & Software
http://www.wescottdesign.com

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I would like to Andre <pas.mois@ailleur.be> - 2012-03-01 12:19 +0100
  Re: I would like to "Dennis" <jon.dough@ithemorgue.com> - 2012-03-01 19:53 +0800
    Re: I would like to pippo2@disney.com (Jack) - 2012-03-01 13:08 +0100
      Re: I would like to Arlet Ottens <usenet+5@c-scape.nl> - 2012-03-01 17:06 +0100
      Re: I would like to Mel Wilson <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2012-03-01 11:53 -0500
      Re: I would like to Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> - 2012-03-01 11:17 -0600
    Re: I would like to Anar <pavel2661@gmail.com> - 2012-03-01 14:26 +0200
  Re: I would like to hamilton <hamilton@nothere.com> - 2012-03-01 07:53 -0700
    Re: I would like to Noob <root@127.0.0.1> - 2012-03-01 16:07 +0100
  Re: I would like to Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> - 2012-03-01 11:34 -0600
    Re: I would like to Dave <noone$$@llondel.org> - 2012-03-01 21:26 +0000
      Re: I would like to hamilton <hamilton@nothere.com> - 2012-03-01 17:11 -0700
        Re: I would like to Rob Gaddi <rgaddi@technologyhighland.invalid> - 2012-03-01 16:46 -0800
        Re: I would like to Dave <noone$$@llondel.org> - 2012-03-04 21:47 +0000
        Re: I would like to Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2012-03-04 22:44 +0000
      Re: I would like to Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> - 2012-03-01 18:04 -0600
  Re: I would like to Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> - 2012-03-02 05:41 +1100
  Re: I would like to Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-03-03 02:16 +0200
  Re: I would like to Andre <pas.mois@ailleur.be> - 2012-03-04 16:18 +0100
    Re: I would like to rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2012-03-04 14:58 -0800
  Re: I would like to mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2012-03-04 17:21 -0800

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