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180 of 187 people found the following review helpful:
NXT 2.0: A Solid Improvement on the Best MINDSTORMS Set Ever
I first encountered the MINDSTORMS series in 2001 when I bought the Robotics Invention System 1.5 out of curiosity. Since then, I've purchased and used numerous MINDSTORMS sets, written two MINDSTORMS books, developed and taught a LEGO robotics course, and given LEGO presentations. So when I heard that LEGO was releasing the NXT 2.0 set in summer/fall 2009, I was curious...
Published 13 months ago by David J. Perdue
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Great toy if you get one that works
I purchased this toy for my son for Christmas. It was a disappointment to find that the computer part or "Brick" was defective from the start. The display was blank and despite following all of the troubleshooting procedures we could not get the display to work. We could program the brick and my son was able to use it until a replacement arrived. If you do a google...
Published 8 months ago by C. Skoning
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180 of 187 people found the following review helpful:
NXT 2.0: A Solid Improvement on the Best MINDSTORMS Set Ever, July 19, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
I first encountered the MINDSTORMS series in 2001 when I bought the Robotics Invention System 1.5 out of curiosity. Since then, I've purchased and used numerous MINDSTORMS sets, written two MINDSTORMS books, developed and taught a LEGO robotics course, and given LEGO presentations. So when I heard that LEGO was releasing the NXT 2.0 set in summer/fall 2009, I was curious to discover how LEGO would improve its flagship product. After finally getting my hands on a 2.0 set, I've been busy building, programming, and analyzing the kit's features. And I think this is the best MINDSTORMS set to date.
The original NXT set released in 2006 (I'll call it the "1.0 set") enjoyed enormous success but still had some shortcomings. The NXT 2.0 set addresses some of those flaws and really is everything the 1.0 set should have been. As a robotics kit, the NXT 2.0 set mainly involves building and programming, so I'll take a look at how the kit performs in each of these areas.
First, the building experience is fun and challenging while offering some exciting new additions. For the electronic elements, the NXT microcomputer and servo motors remain the same in both design and quantity; however, the selection of sensors has changed. There are now two touch sensors, an ultrasonic (distance) sensor, and the color sensor. The new color sensor boasts three functionalities. It can detect colors (6 basic colors), measure light intensity, and act as a lamp (emitting a red, blue, or green light). Unlike the 1.0 set, there is no light sensor or sound sensor: the new color sensor can function as a light sensor, and LEGO apparently thought that having two touch sensors would be more useful than having one touch sensor and one sound sensor as in the 1.0 set. I agree.
The building elements are, once again, studless LEGO TECHINC pieces rather than traditional bricks. The 1.0 set included a few TECHNIC bricks, but these are gone in the 2.0 set, which focuses entirely on studless construction. Overall, there is still a good selection of beams, pegs, and axles (including a new #9 length axle) as well as the addition of two small rubber bands. Also fun is the special ball shooter equipment along with 12 small, brightly colored balls.
There are only a few gears included, though. Whereas the 1.0 set included a fairly good variety and quantity of gears, the 2.0 set includes only a handful of double bevel gears and a single 12t bevel gear. This is a bit disappointing but also understandable. People like to add lots of gears to their robots to make them look cool, but lots of gears introduce lots of friction. The 2.0 kit's sample robot designs demonstrate how to connect pieces directly to motors rather than using gears to transmit the motion. This works fine and takes a little bit of getting used to, but I would still encourage new LEGO users to expand their collection of gears after purchasing the 2.0 set.
As for the programming, the 2.0 version of the included NXT-G software offers some welcome new features. A remote control, sound editor, image editor, new programming blocks, improved performance, and other features make programming a more enjoyable experience. Performance is noticeably better than in the 1.0 version but can still be sluggish.
The software includes a number of fun challenges spread across four robot designs: Shooterbot, Robogator, Color Sorter, and Alpha Rex. The sample robots are durable and work well, although some of the instructions for using Color Sorter were a bit confusing. The new version of Alpha-Rex is a truly fascinating robot: in addition to being a fun "advanced" model to build, new users can learn a lot from its incredibly compact and elegant design.
The NXT 2.0 set is leading the MINDSTORMS series in the right direction. I like what I see in this set, and I believe LEGO has a winner on its hands. The 2.0 set is more expensive than the 1.0 set--by $30--but I believe the improvements and added functionality justify the extra cost. In sum, the NXT 2.0 set is a great toolset for any robotics enthusiast and a must-have for MINDSTORMS fans.
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43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
A great set for the creative youngster (and for the inventive adult!), August 1, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
SUMMARY:
I think that the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 is a great set for the creative youngster (and for the inventive adult!) This robotics kit can offer hours and hours of fun. While playing with it, you'll (your kid) be able to interact with people all over the world, and you'll have a great start in engineering.
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At the moment of writing this review, 4 customer reviews have been posted: two 1-star reviews and two 5- star reviews. This gives an average of 3 stars, which is way below what the kit deserves. It deserves 5 stars.
Another customer (D. Perdue) has already posted a great review (5 stars) about the new features in the set, and in this review I'd like to add some more to this. Furthermore, I'd like to respond to the two negative reviews posted so far.
I have been into MINDSTORMS for about 4 years now, and my first robot set was a RIS 2.0 set (the older MINDSTORMS system). I purchased my first NXT set in 2007 and I still have not stopped playing with it. This is what I like about MINDSTORMS: the possibilities are endless. You can not only build and program robots, but you can also design, invent and even interact with the MINDSTORMS community.
By corresponding with others in this community, you'll get to learn new building and programming techniques, and you can share your knowledge and robot inventions with other LEGO - minded people. As a result, you can get in touch with people all over the world. This has been so for all the MINDSTORMS system, and now that the NXT 2.0 is introduced, I expect the community to grow even larger.
When you first open the NXT 2.0 box, you'll find a special bag with building elements called "start here!". With these parts you can start of building your first robot with step by step building instructions.
I have to admit, the next step is a little harder: programming. The drag-and-drop programming software is really easy to use, but the documentation isn't always very clear: there is not a step-by-step guide in the kit which teaches you all the ins and outs about programming (but there is a good reference manual in the software). Fortunately, there are enough sample programs to get you started. Everyone with a little creativity can do the trick.
As you finished playing with the basics of robot programming, you can start building some of the other robot models that appear on the NXT box: an alligator, a ball color sorter and a humanoid: Alpha Rex. I recommend to start with the training vehicle (Shooterbot) first, though. But, having built these four models doesn't end the fun yet!
There are a lot of websites dedicated to MINDSTORMS (NXT 2.0). Some of them offer building instructions so you can build even more robots. Apart from these websites, there are also plenty of MINDSTORMS books, which teach you how to make the best of your NXT set. Also, there are a few books, especially dedicated to NXT 2.0, coming out at the end of the year.
As you gain more MINDSTORMS experience you'll be able to invent your own robotic creations. Then, you can take photos, or even create a 3d model of your robot on your computer, and share it on the MINDSTORMS NXTLOG website.
In the rest of this review, I'd like to respond to the two 1-star reviews posted on Amazon as of now.
- Re: "Buyer beware!" (Customer support issue and technical problems)
I'm sorry to hear about your problems with the NXT 2.0. I know that a lot of MINDSTORMS sets are being returned to LEGO, but sometimes that is because people do not know how to use it. If this is the case, the mistake can often be solved easily (An example problem is an incorrectly placed motor or sensor cable).
In general, I would recommend to post issues on MINDSTORMS forums by the community (just Google for "the NXT step" or "NXTasy"). The people there usually know more about it than the technical support service.
I have to add that the programs on the NXT Intelligent Brick actually did correctly work on my end. These programs are not faulty, and regular programming using the software also worked with no problems.
Of course, when there is really a problem with the hardware in the set, it is good to let LEGO know and to request replacement parts. This turns out to be the case for this reviewer. Hopefully, this problem doesn't occur in too many sets. I've experienced the LEGO customer service to be quite helpful. In the past, I have had two broken electronic LEGO pieces, and I received new, working parts after a call with them.
UPDATE: I've just checked the NXT 2.0 User Guide, and found a small, but important error on page 15: The colored annonations that instruct the user to plug the cables are incorrect. With these cable configurations, the programs do not work indeed. You can follow the building steps in the software instead - these are correct.
- Re: "Better than ever?"
I agree that NXT 2.0 (as apposed to NXT 1.0) was not improved on the hardware side apart form a new Color. I think this is great. Why? All NXT 2.0 sets are still compatible with the NXT 1.0 sets, simply because they use the same intelligent brick. This way, existing users can upgrade without throwing their old system away. Furthermore, all the useful information made up by the community for NXT 1.0, is still just as valuable for NXT 2.0.
SUMMARY:
I think that the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 is a great set for the creative youngster (and for the inventive adult!) This robotics kit can offer hours and hours of fun. While playing with it, you'll (your kid) be able to interact with people all over the world, and you'll have a great start in engineering.
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Laurens Valk, the Netherlands
Designer of the Manty robot which appears on the back of the NXT 2.0 box,
[...]
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
A little more whimsy would be nice..., October 3, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
I purchased the original Mindstorms 1.0 way back in the nineties. I absolutely loved it; it was a great workout for both my imagination and my ingenuity. It was also a great family toy: I could get the gears aligned and programmed, and my 8-year old daughter would supplement it with additional Legos for fun. That was what I loved about the original set: it did a wonderful job of straddling the line between robotics set and sheer silliness. The computerized brick looked like a giant yellow Lego; there were lots of colors, and it was compatible with other Legos. It even had an expansion set that allowed you to built animals and monsters, and came with Lego eyes, fins, and all kinds of fun little additions. The creations were functional (usually!), but also seemed to fit into the World of LegoLand.
This new set looks like...well, a robotics set. That's not a bad thing, but it means that this set needs to be compared to other robotics sets out there. Before, Mindstorms was completely unique, in a class all by itself. Now it looks like a very well-designed robotics set. The colors are drab, the 600+ pieces all have a specific practical function, there is less room for customizing.
Don't get me wrong, this set is a huge step up in functionality. The new color sensor alone is an enormous improvement. I will have hundreds of hours of fun with NXT 2.0. But I'm not sure my current young daughters will have much interest in it, and that makes me sad.
One last note: the box itself is pretty poorly designed. It's...a box. There are no dividers or compartments to keep organized. Not a huge issue, but you would think that at nearly $300 a pop the Lego folks would be willing to spring for a little extra cardboard.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
From a middle and high school teacher, November 26, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
I've had 10 sets for a few months now. I've started a Robotics group with 6-8th graders. I'll explain my ratings.
The kids love the kits, so fun is up there.
The educational value is middle-of-the-road. If you already have NXT/Mindstorms programming experience then this kit has educational value. But if you are just starting out it is difficult and unnecessarily so. I have programming experience so I am OK with it, but 6th graders can get frustrated -- exactly what you don't want. The included s/w offers too few example robots and programs. For those examples that are there, the instructions are clear and the programs work. But students will not learn programming without additional instruction. So teachers beware: you will need to create a tutorial in your curriculum. There is a site for more robot instructions (NXTPrograms.com), but there's not much there yet for this new 2.0 version. There are also some tutorial videos available online (e.g., ortop.org) for the previous version.
Another complaint I have is the kit is not backward compatible. In other words, you can't make all the kits from the previous version (you can make a few). LEGO should come out with a compatibility upgrade kit so that all the robots and programs that were invented for the previous version don't just die out.
As far as durability goes, we have had one motor seize, but LEGO replaced that fairly quickly.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Great idea, but be prepared to spend some more $$, December 28, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
I design equipment control's for a living, so I'm fairly adept at these types of embedded processors. Purchasing the NXT kit only seemed a natural way for me to spend more time with my two boys (12 and 9) and sneak in some education at the same time.
The Good:
> This is an awesome idea by Lego - a toy that can be reused over, and over, and over again and is only limited by the imagination.
> It really is a good tool to teach your child the fundamentals of programming.
> The software (by Labview) is well done and about as easy as it can be made to be.
> The parts are compatible with other Lego products - greatly expanding the capabilities.
> It really does lend itself to parent/child together time.
The Challenges:
(Note that I say challenges, because I would really say that there is anything bad about the product.
> If you've never programmed before, you have to expect that there will be a learning curve. Don't expect to be doing anything you can imagine right away.
> It really feels to me like a starter kit. Most things that we want it to do, there are simply not enough parts for. For example, a fourth motor would be really useful as well as a third button and an analog input device (an input that varies in value instead of off/on - like a light dimmer). To really make this fun, I think that you either need two of them, or find a friend with one.
> You have to find clever ways to attach to the motors and the 'brain' in order to build a stable structure. I know of lots of regular lego parts that could have been included to make this easier.
Summary:
The Mindstorm is a great product that lends itself to quality parent/child time. The experience is enhanced by a combination of a technically savoy parent and an inventive child. You'll find yourself thinking and building all kinds of interesting devices together.
To keep it from going into a closet after the first month, though, you need to plan on further investment. It is a starter kit, and needs further parts to make it really useful. Consider getting together with friends or joining a club.
SteveJ
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Great toy (bit expensive!), September 19, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
Pros: I agree with other reviews here and don't have much to add. It's a great toy for an enthusiast. Just a couple of complaints.
Cons: 1. Wish Lego included a $5 storage box with compartments for organizing various pieces (of a $280 toy). Where do you keep those small peices once unpacked or between projects - in zipper bags?
2. Rechargeable battery instead of 6 AA batteries. Even a sub $100 digital camera has rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries; Why not this little robot? It will reduce the weight and size of the brick.
Wish-list: Voice recognition sensor!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Great kit, different than the 1.0 kit and real fun, August 2, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
This summer I taught a summer workshop on the Mindstorms NXT robotics system. I have to say that out of all of the kits available this one is the most cost effective and fun kit to use for robotics learning. It was so easy to teach the 8-15 year old students how to quickly build and program the examples provided in the kit, the kids really enjoyed the ShooterBot build.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Engineer Dad, February 6, 2010
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
I know and work with PLC's and computer simulations. We were looking for an educational toy for our 10 yr. old daughter. Her school also has a First Lego Robotics Club, so this would be a good first step. Overall, this filled the bill. There are simple robots that help the child get a fast start and build confidence. As with all Lego products, there are lots of small parts and completed robot assemblies are small in size. The robots work as expected and the building and programming experience are excellent. There are plenty of books and on-line support for Lego robotics, with plans, instructions, and examples for help and continued learning. I did find that the instructions had some errors, particularly involving crossed wiring. Since I am an engineer, I was able to figure it out quickly, but a child on their own or a non-tech parent could have spent a lot of time and been very frustrated.
This is not pure toy. It involves some work, dedication, and practice - all of which are important skills for a developing mind and growing child. With Lego robotics, the upside potential for continued learning and advanced capabilities are immense. Of course, as with all Lego products, there is a significant cost involved - especially if you wish to expand your robot with additional sensors and mechanical arms, wheels, gears, etc. I wish that Lego would offer add-on kits that feature specific projects, designs, etc. with the needed extra parts. That would make the second step easier, instead of expecting a more experienced child to instantly master all skills. Bottom line - I would recommend this toy/learning product very highly. Just be ready to assist your child a lot. It takes a concerted effort on the part of the child and the parents combined.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Love it, October 4, 2009
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
This is an awesome kit! It has enough pieces to build a few different configurations of robot (note that there are only enough motors to build one robot at a time). I bought this to use in a high-school classroom. This was our experience:
-The box came in the mail and the kids tore into it. They were psyched. When they opened the box, they were bewildered by the number of pieces. We figured out that the pieces were divided into individual bags for each project. The bags aren't resealable, so you should have a plan for keeping them organized once they are opened.
-They wanted to build the hardest project (the one depicted on the front of the box), but I convinced them to start small. They built the little car first. It took about an hour because we were still learning how to use all of the pieces. The directions were hard for them to follow because they weren't used to legos. They missed a step somewhere and it messed them up so much that they had to take the project apart and start over. We were out of time, so I took the set to a friend's house and her 10 year old lego-enthusiast son put it together. He was able to follow the pictures and complete the project within 30 minutes.
-My students loved programming the robot once it was put together. The setup process isn't ideal for the classroom, as there are lots of small pieces that can be easily lost. In the future, I will assemble robots myself (or let a small group of dedicated students work on it after school) and then let the kids do the programming. It's not that the kids CAN'T build the project (because clearly, the 10-year-old had no problem), but it was hard for them to do it as a group. Assembly required a lot of focus and space.
-I plan to purchase more of these for my classroom. The kids can work in groups of 3-4 students per kit. I want to encourage parents to buy this, too. It's definitely a toy that you'll enjoy along with your kids. I would say age minimum is a mature 8. The 10-year old could put it together, but he had a hard time with problem-solving skills. If a piece was missing (and a few were), he stopped working instead of looking for a similar piece in one of the other bags. Parental supervision is definitely required. This toy will stop being fun if you lose too many pieces.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Awesome Set, July 9, 2009
A Kid's Review
Durability: Fun: Educational:
This review is from: LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (Toy)
This is a great set for anybody interesting in Robotics, Science, computers, Mechanics, or anybody who wants to enjoy themselves and create something great. It is really easy to use and the possibilities are endless!!! No doubt this is probably one of the best toys/investment any parent can give to a child (I'm a kid too, but I have really gotten a lot out of it!). It allows kids to explore their imagination and make something unique. LEGO is a great company and the quality of the kit is excellent. An absolutely great buy!!!
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