Robotics Kits Technology

Great guide!, October 11, 2010

By 

Joseph Meno (Raleigh, NC United States) – See all my reviews

  

I had gotten this book a year ago from a Japanese publisher and am happy to see it translated.

Funny thing is, this book didn’t need much translating at all. Besides the introduction and bylines, everything else is visual. And that’s the magic of this book. This is the last of the trilogy of LEGO Technic Idea books, so while it brushes on the techniques of the previous two books, it quickly goes into building working machines.

The models shown have been built with colorful parts which show how the assembly is done without instructions, so this is a guidebook and reference for old and new builders to make their models move. The overall design of the magazine is clean, only showing the models. No notes are shown, nor are they needed – there are a set of graphics that are diagrams of the movement of a model, but the photos are clear enough on their own without any further description.

The very raw builds also open up the reader to use and adapt the models inside to their creations – want to make a moving spider? Look it up in the contents, and build and then add your building to it. In that respect, the book lives up to its title as an idea book.

Looking through the book will be instructional to the older builder and inspirational to the newer builders. As a reference, this will be a useful book to people using the LEGO MINDSTORMS systems to develop robots.

I recommend the book to anyone who has a pile of Technic pieces and is wondering: What can I build? With this book, you’ll be very surprised.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

<span
Was this review helpful to you? 

Report abuse
| Permalink

 Comment

Thinking in LEGO — where to find those pesky parts, November 8, 2010

There are hundreds of models in these books and, unless you’ve got a massive storehouse of LEGO Technic parts in your 10,000 square foot basement, you may not have all of the parts you need in order to build a particular model.

We want to help you find those parts. To that end, Yoshihito Isogawa has prepared a hyperlinked list of the more unique parts in the books to help you to find them at the Bricklink website. We can’t post a direct link to that list here, but here’s how to find it on our website:

(1) Go to the main No Starch Press website

(2) Search for the word “technic”

(3) Click the first search item that comes up (“LEGO Technic Idea Book Complete Set”)

(4) When you reach that page, click the link that says “See the parts list for the books,” which you’ll see just underneath the red text that says “Buy the whole set and save . . .”

or, if you can read between the lines, try:

nostarch dot com /technic

Please remember that these are idea books; buying these books is not like buying a pre-packaged lego set. As such, you’re encouraged to explore and invent with LEGO. Many of our readers draw considerable inspiration from the pictures of Isogawa’s models alone and I hope that you will, too.

Sincerely,

William Pollock, Founder

No Starch Press

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

<span
Was this review helpful to you? 

Report abuse
| Permalink

 Comments (2)

Crawling contraptions and more! A great resource book for every LEGO fan., October 30, 2010

If you or someone you know is interested in expanding their LEGO building techniques or is seeking inspiration to build like a professional, this three book series is the answer.

While every book in the series is great, The Fantastic Contraptions book is the best stand-alone book as there’s something in it for every LEGO builder. Isogawa offers up ideas for building with lights, magnets, pneumatic elements, pulleys and more.

Similar to the LEGO idea books from the 70′s and 80′s, these books are chock full of clever creations, but instead of specifically describing how to build things like houses, spaceships or vehicles, this series of books takes creativity to an even higher level by teaching the reader how to build foundational components that can be used to build practically anything.

Using full color photo illustrations and an intuitive icon-based index system, you can quickly find how to build mechanical walkers, automatic sliding doors, flexible vehicles, and much more. These books contain virtually no words beyond the first few pages, but this is no problem thanks to Isogawa’s carefully arranged photographs that indicate where to place every piece.

Novice builders wishing to learn how to connect bricks in unique and interesting ways such as sideways, upside down or at angles will particularly enjoy the Simple Machines book, whereas Mindstorms robotics fans and LEGO Technic fans will enjoy the entire series.

Whereas the titles of these books aptly describe the bias towards technical creations, all three books should be on the shelf of every serious LEGO fan.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

<span
Was this review helpful to you? 

Report abuse
| Permalink

 Comment

Has been working great for the last 7.5 years!, January 15, 2005

My PalmPilot Personal has been working great everyday in the last 7.5 years. It only has minor scratches in the graffiti area. I use lower voltage NiMH rechargable batteries with it so I think it is going to last a while. And it is made by US Robotics, and I get some attention when I bring it out of my leather belt clip case and use it.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

<span
Was this review helpful to you? 

Report abuse
| Permalink

 Comment (1)

Palm computers manage a variety of useful tasks, November 20, 1998

The 3Com PalmPilots manage a huge variety of business and personal tasks. Using a simple graphic interface incorporating handwriting recognition, the PalmPilot Professional comes ready to work with a calendar/datebook (with alarms and the ability to handle repeating tasks), address book, to-do list, notepad and calculator. Included software and a linking cradle allow you to swap information with a desktop computer.

The Palm platform is fertile ground for small software developers: fully featured, inexpensive applications for the Palm are available for virtually any need: financial and scientific calculators, database and small spreadsheet programs, document readers and, naturally, games.

In addition, a number of excellent commercial software packages offer Palm links to their Windows-based products, including the popular contact management program Act! and DeLorme’s enormously useful map products. With the addition of a compatible GPS unit and cable, the Palm computer running downloaded DeLorme directions can guide you on a trip, giving advance notice of the next turn you’ll need to make and displaying speed, elapsed mileage and other parameters.

Add-on devices include modems, an alphanumeric paging receiver, even a compass.

The Palm computers operate on two AAA batteries which, depending on your work habits and use of the backlit screen, will last for a month or so.

Much more than an executive ‘toy’, the PalmPilot computers offer excellent function in a small, well designed package. A gift that is sure to be appreciated by the businessperson or computer fanatic on your holiday shopping list.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

<span
Was this review helpful to you? 

Report abuse
| Permalink

 Comment

A good PDA!!, July 22, 2007

This PalmPilot is good at storing phone numbers in Alphabetical order. It has a sensitive touch screen and a bright Backlight. You can get a wide variety of programs and games off the internet. It is Made in the U.S.A!! This palmtop is very sturdy and small in size. The built in touch-screen calculator is very cool. The only complaint about this item is there is only one megabyte of memory. This is a great item!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

<span
Was this review helpful to you? 

Report abuse
| Permalink

 Comment (1)