tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312037828648622436.post-47948926206420523402008-03-24T17:38:00.004-05:002008-04-08T13:50:27.968-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://filer.case.edu/jec24/uploaded_images/comparison-727072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://filer.case.edu/jec24/uploaded_images/comparison-726936.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.nkcelectronics.com/freeduino-arduino-diecimila-compatible-board-complete-kit.html">Freeduino</a> is a great kit for those interested in the <a href="http://www.arduino.cc/">Arduino</a> platform. It is essentially identical to the <a href="http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardDiecimila">Arduino Diecimila</a>, but made with through-hole components to allow for easy assembly as a kit. I assembled mine in about 30 minutes. Unlike my <a href="http://www.highonsolder.org/2008/03/arduino-part-1.html">homebrew Arduino</a>, the Freeduino shares the Arduino's form factor and therefore is interchangeable with the pre-assembled board (including compatibility with the <a href="http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=index&amp;cPath=17_21&amp;zenid=89cbee8cf1a5332786307546d8201cee">various shield kits</a> that are available for the Arduino). Another benefit of the Freeduino is that, due to its onboard female headers, it allows for prototyping without the use of a solderless breadboard.<br /><br />Pictured above is a side-by-side comparison of the finished Freeduino kit (on the left) and my scratch built Arduino.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02539531973641201676noreply@blogger.com