gbulmer - Thanks for verifying the 'struct' declaration. So the Maple 'language' is basically C++ like the Arduino language.
Regarding the Maple Mini, its been several weeks since an update. Is the Mini still expected by month's end? Thanks.
Maple-Mini vs. Netburner 5213 Module
(98 posts) (15 voices)-
liam.ll
MemberLeaflabs - Good progress to date and very happy to see the blog and device page updated with the Mini and the Native. I see that the price is still TBA - the last number I saw was $33. I'm rooting for $29.95. With that price, you'll separate the Mini from Coridium Proplus ($35), the FEZ Panda ($35), Netduino ($35), and the venerable Mbed ($60). For $29.95, I don't see why anyone would purchase an 8-bit Basic Stamp or even an Arduino (the Uno is $65) especially with a few example projects for beginners. With a few articles in Makezine, Elektor, Nuts & Volts, etc., about the MIT leafblowers and the affordable open source 32-bit devices, you can corner the Stamp market. If I saw the Mini next to a Basic Stamp at Radio Shack, I would buy 2 Mini's. Good luck.
Posted 4 years ago # -
poslathian
LeafLabsliam.II and others - yes!
I'm glad to see the enthusiasm. These boards are just oh so close to being on sale and we are very excited. Expect price reductions across the board. Regarding hitting the sub 30$ mark, the final decision depends on what fab tells us and the exact number of boards we make for the first run, but we really would like to get it there.
Thanks for sticking with us, we look forward to sharing the new goodies with you! Maple Mini has already found several niches in projects in the lab. There is even a local startup using it an micro IMU project - which we are very happy about but unfortunately cant say more.
Once these new boards go on sale, the next steps are all about libraries-videos-projects-tutorials-and otherwise good relations with users and reviewers. Cant wait to see what everyone builds!
Posted 4 years ago # -
gbulmer
Moderatorliam.ll - tiny point
I don't see why anyone would purchase an 8-bit Basic Stamp or even an Arduino (the Uno is $65)
Arduino UNO is $29.95 not $65, from, e.g. http://www.nkcelectronics.com/arduino-diecimila.html
Maybe you were thinking of a Mega? At $59.95, which, IMHO, is way overpriced, esp. compared to a Maple
Posted 4 years ago # -
liam.ll
Membergbulmer - thanks for catching that error. I was referring to the Arduino Mega ($65 at Adafruit.com). Interestingly enough, that board is also on sale at Mouser.com for $63.76 (stock total is 234). That's the mother of all distributors (Digikey the father). Mouser can use some leaves.
I think the majority of potential customers are beginners (as I was) and will not appreciate the difference between an UNO ($29.95) and a Maple Mini - they will appreciate price. Arduino is a strong brand is as Parallax. My first microcontroller was a Basic Stamp that I just happened to come across at Fry's. Never heard of microcontrollers before that. I was intrigued by the concept of programming a circuit. I bought it for $49.95. Had I seen a Maple Mini for say $25 right next to it... you get the point. Price is the ultimate decider.
Posted 4 years ago # -
gbulmer
Moderatorliam.ll - I strongly agree on the price, especially for beginners.
My 'don't mind spending it price' was a Bertucci brick oven "Ultimate Bertucci" pizza and a couple of bottles of beer.
It would be handy to have a 'killer project' on the Maple Mini to differentiate it from an Arduino. I keep getting distracted, and haven't made much direct progress for months on my ideas.
Posted 4 years ago # -
liam.ll
MemberTo the leafblowers, now that Maple Mini is off to fabrication, have you finalized the price? Will the Mini be available through this website or your distributors? I'm surprised that Sparkfun does not carry your products. Anyway, I hope the first digit on the price is a 2.
gbulmer - unfortunately for us on the west coast, Bertucci is only an east coast phenomenon. On the west coast we have bad pizza and parallax basic stamps.
Posted 4 years ago # -
gbulmer
Moderatorliam.ll - I agree a sub $30 price would be great, but a mini is much more computing power than an Arduino UNO, which Sparkfun sell for $29.95
(I'm not sure which part of the West coast you are on, but in the 90's (and occasional visits since then), I had plenty of good food including burgers, suchi, and Scoma's seafood around San Francisco and 'the valley'. I vaguely remember getting okay pizza in Palo Alto, near Camino Real & University (I think). I also remember some great food in Seattle, Portland and down in Carmell ;-)
but now that I think of it, no great pizza :-(Posted 4 years ago # -
liam.ll
Membergbulmer ~ Yes, the Mini will have "much" more computing power than a $29.95 Arduino UNO, but how do you put a price on "much" more? Experts may understand the increment in capability. But beginners and intermediates may not immediately grasp how "much" more they are getting, so they may waste their money on a $29.95 UNO instead of, say, a $33 Mini. I think the leafblowers want to target all customers at all levels. With a $29.95 Mini, there is no reason for the UNO, Basic Stamp, Netduino stamp, Netburner, Mbed... should I go on?
Posted 4 years ago # -
gbulmer
Moderatorliam.ll - IMHO folks will get an Arduino, and maybe a Stamp, because they have heard of it, and having a mini at the same price won't attract many more buyers.
In fact, I would go further, and suggest that a mini must be more expensive than an UNO/Stamp/etc., or folks won't even ask what a mini does better that allows LeafLabs to charge more!
IMHO, price is not the only criteria, and it shouldn't even be the dominant criteria.
Further, if the mini had a "killer" application, which an Arduino/Stamp/... could not do, then it would be clear that it must cost more.
The actual cost competitors are the Fez and Netduino's. They are $35-ish.
Posted 4 years ago #
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