Vex or Mindstorms NXT
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Subject Author Date
Vex or Mindstorms NXT Too_Many_Tools 11-18-2006
Posted by Too_Many_Tools on November 18, 2006, 1:31 pm
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I have been asked for advice for purchasing a robotics kit for
Christmas for some kids.

The options seem to be Vex or Mindstroms NXT...which one would you
select and why?

Thanks

TMT


Posted by Wayne C. Gramlich on November 18, 2006, 4:20 pm
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Too_Many_Tools wrote:
> I have been asked for advice for purchasing a robotics kit for
> Christmas for some kids.
>
> The options seem to be Vex or Mindstroms NXT...which one would you
> select and why?

TMT:

The VEX has the following benifits:

1) VEX has both Radio Control and Microcontroller control.
2) VEX robots are held together with screws. While it takes
longer to build a VEX robot, they tend not to fall apart.
3) The VEX microcontroller has 6 interrupts, 8 motor
controls, and 16 I/O's as compared to the NXT's 3 motors
and 4 sensors (up to 3 NXT bricks can be connected via
BlueTooth.)
4) Lot's of metal pieces.

The NXT has the following benifits:

1) The Lego community is huge.
2) The new motors have rotations sensors built in.
3) Lot's of platic pieces.


While I do not have hands on experience with either the NXT
or the VEX, the VEX seems like it has a bit more going for it.
I would tend to steer the smaller crowd (< 10 years) towards
the NXT, and the older folks (10+ years) towards VEX. I figure
anybody who is 10 years old should be starting to learn how
screws work.

Just my $.02,

-Wayne

Posted by Too_Many_Tools on November 19, 2006, 9:59 pm
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Thanks for the response.

Anyone else? I would like to get more opinions before committing
dollars.

TMT

Too_Many_Tools wrote:
> I have been asked for advice for purchasing a robotics kit for
> Christmas for some kids.
>
> The options seem to be Vex or Mindstroms NXT...which one would you
> select and why?
>
> Thanks
>
> TMT


Posted by Joe Strout on November 20, 2006, 11:29 am
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If there is any First LEGO League activity anywhere in the kids' area
(do a web search for this or ask at your school), then I'd recommend
going with the NXT, since that will give them a leg up on that
competition. The FLL competition is a lot of fun and generates a lot of
comraderie, i.e., they'll be able to share their robot skills with their
friends rather than just tinkering away on their own.

For older kids (high school), of course, FIRST uses the Vex system now.
So that's probably the best approach -- under high school, get NXT; in
high school, get VEX.

HTH,
- Joe

Posted by Too_Many_Tools on November 20, 2006, 4:44 pm
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Thanks for the advice Joe....you make a good point.

ANYONE ELSE?

This is the most active robotics newsgroup around, isn't it? ;<)

Santa Claus needs some advice....if you were a kid, which would you
want in YOUR stocking and why?

Thanks for any advice.

TMT

Joe Strout wrote:
> If there is any First LEGO League activity anywhere in the kids' area
> (do a web search for this or ask at your school), then I'd recommend
> going with the NXT, since that will give them a leg up on that
> competition. The FLL competition is a lot of fun and generates a lot of
> comraderie, i.e., they'll be able to share their robot skills with their
> friends rather than just tinkering away on their own.
>
> For older kids (high school), of course, FIRST uses the Vex system now.
> So that's probably the best approach -- under high school, get NXT; in
> high school, get VEX.
>
> HTH,
> - Joe


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