Customer Reviews

Getting Started with Arduino (Make: Projects)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While some reviewers decry the intro "fluff" chapters and the simplicity of some of the projects, by the end of this short book, you will have been exposed to many of the capabilities of the Arduino microcontroller. I found the book's projects to be very informative and fun. One warning to buyers: You will need to buy a few more electronic parts to take full advantage of this book and it's projects. Here's what you should get:
1. 5-10 x 10K-Ohm resistors
2. 1 x Momentary push button switch (4 pin), compatible with a breadboard
3. 5 x LEDs of differing colors (most will work with the 3-5V output of the Arduino).
4. 1 x MOSFET or 1 x 5V actuated relay (this is to turn on/off motors)
5. 1 x solder-less breadboard
6. 1 x jumper wire kit (various lengths and colors of short wires)
7. 1 x LDR (light dependent resistor)
8. 1 x 9V (or similar magnitude) battery case with leads for a breadboard
9. 1 x small motor (5-9V).

It seems like quite a bit, but if you get and use these parts with the projects, you will learn how to use sensors to take in data from the environment, have the Arduino process it, and then drive a response (in the form of lighting LEDs, turning on motors, etc.). Fortunately, the Arduino itself is USB-powered, so the other power sources (i.e. the battery case) will only be needed to run things like the motor.

Hello
I would like to specify that the book can't be found online for free.
There is a booklet that was written in 2006 that was 30 pages, this is 128 pages and it's up to date and correct.

The booklet had a lot of mistakes, inaccuracies and the way some things are taught is now out of date and has been removed from the site.

Having said this, Arduino is an open source project that prides itself from having a lot of documentation online so if you read the thousands of pages online you can learn about Arduino.

This book is for the complete beginner that wants to be taken by hand through the basic steps that it takes to get started.

I cannot offer high enough praise for this brief, artistic introduction to the Arduino Microcontroller and its enthusiastic user community. In this 118 page handbook, easily stored with your electronics tools, the author a co-designer of the Arduino controller, provides everything needed for the non-technical DIYer to program, test and build simple electronic projects with the Arduino board. In addition to Massimo Banzi's clear and informal writing about experimenting with electronics, software, and even descriptions of how to get answers from the open source community online, this pamphlet contains clear but artistic illustrations of the equipment used and ancillary tools by Elisa Canducci. It is an excellent introduction for the Artist, Teacher, DIYer, Electronics Hobbyists and Software People who are afraid to assemble physical electronics. I only wish there was more content along the lines of this book--but then it wouldn't fit in your toolkit or be available for $12.99.
--Ira Laefsky

I've never done anything with electronics before, but I got through this book over the course of a couple days. Surprisingly few difficulties for a beginner. I liked the casual style of the book. The Arduino language was easy to learn and I found myself making adjustments to the code between projects. You learn by doing in this book, so it doesn't feel like arduous studying. Basically, a chapter will introduce a project with some new functions that you haven't learned before - you'll build it and write the sketch (the Arduino code) and then learn what you did. It was fun.
Another reviewer mentioned getting some extras with the book and I heeded his advice. I bought the Arduino Duemilanove Starter Kit through Amazon and it included pretty much everything I needed to go through this book:
(I'll modify the other reviewer's list a bit)
1. 5 x 330 Ohm resistors
2. 1 x Momentary push button switch
3. 6 x LEDs
4. 1 x solder-less breadboard
5. 1 x jumper wire kit
6. The Aruino Duemilanove of course
The things above are all included in that kit.
The only other things you'll want to buy are:
7. LDR (light dependent resistor) [fun sensor to use]
8. Some 10k Ohm resistors [these are recommended in the book, though you can probably get away with the 330 Ohms]

The following devices (9-12) are shown in a setup on page 71 - but with no explanation of how to use them. If you know electronics already, you could probably figure it out. If you're a beginner - I'd say no need to buy (9-12) for use with this book, because although they are pictured - there is no explanation or code.
9. 1 x 9V (or similar magnitude) battery case with leads for a breadboard
10. 1 x small motor (5-9V).
11. 1 x MOSFET or 1 x 5V actuated relay (this is to turn on/off motors)
12. (A diode is pictured, but no indication of what type).

If you want to really build a permanent lamp with the last project the author recommends the items below (13-16). I'd say this is unnecessary. You can build a temporary version with just items 1-8.
13. IKEA "FADO" table lamp
14. RGB LED (RED, GREEN, BLUE all in one LED with four leads)
15. Soldering Iron
16. Hot glue gun

My three criticisms of the book are:
a. No explanation for using a motor
b. The final project is easy to set up, but it introduces the Processing language so you don't understand half of the project (unless you can understand Processing). That said, you do get to combine all the other stuff you did in the book - so that makes it a worthwhile project.
c. Leaves you wishing for more content. It was fun to go through - but pretty quick and light.

If you're new to electronic circuits and micro controller programming, this book is a great introduction. It walks you through step by step creating basic circuits and programming the Arduino to activate LED's, accept input from various buttons and sensors, and even interact with data from the computer. It's a must read for any beginner!

This book provides some interesting backstory to how the Arduino architecture came about, but there is very little actual technical info here beyond the obvious. If you have some programming experience already, you probably don't need this book.

Other reviewers have said this book is for 12 year olds. They are right. Working through the activities in Getting Started with Arduino, I feel all the wonder and excitement I had when I was 12 and wired up an electro-magnet from framing nails and bell wire.

I learned the theory and mathematics of electronics when I was a kid, but I never really "got it", and since high school, thirty years ago, I've hardly done more than repair a frayed lamp cord.

A week ago I hadn't heard the word "Arduino" twice. Six days ago I saw one controlling a robot. Three days ago, my Arduino starter kit (I bought mine from SparkFun) and this book were waiting for me on the porch when I came home from work. My 7 year old and I have been glued to both ever since.

If you are interested, but ignorant of the inner workings of electronic devices and computer programs; If you want to learn how all of these gadget around us work, buy this book and one of the many Arduino starter kits out there. Let your inner 12 year old out to play.

First, this is a primer. As a primer, this is one of the best primers I have ever used. The primer covers the coding and the hardware features of the Arduino platform quite well and the examples and circuit diagrams in the booklet are clear, concise, easy to build, and use. The author even tells you where to get any of the electronic components that you might need for prototyping and experimenting.

If you are buying, using or curious about the Arduino prototyping platform, you should definitely pick this up, it will save you a lot of time.

As mentioned, the material in this book is also available online, but it isn't really geared toward a technical person. The purpose of this book is to spark creativity in creative people who wouldn't think of what to do with a microcontroller. It's aimed at people who don't have a lot of experience with electronics and are considering making their art projects a bit more interactive. It has a few little examples in it. Not exhaustive by any means, but still a good primer. I would read this book and pass it on to those who may be on the fence about microcontrollers.

This was a very basic overview of the Arduino. Most of the projects involve making a LED blink. While this is a great way to show the input and output concepts, I finished the book feeling like I wanted more examples to really see what the arduino can do. I would imagine that you could save your money and read a quick tutorial online to find what is in this book!