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from: LEGO  
List Price: $249.99 Amazon.com's Price: $231.00 You Save: $18.99 ( 8%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Amazon Minimum Age: 120 monthsBinding: Toy Brand: LEGO EAN: 0673419090131 Item Dimensions: Label: LEGO Manufacturer: LEGO Manufacturer Maximum Age: 216 months Manufacturer Minimum Age: 120 months Model: 4494799 MPN: 8527 Publisher: LEGO Release Date: June 12, 2006 Studio: LEGO Features:
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Editorial Review: Product Description: Bow to the next generation of LEGO Mindstorms now, with a 32-bit processor, redesigned sensors, Bluetooth and more. Features:
Safety warning: This product contains small parts that may present a choking hazard for young children. Amazon.com: Sure, Mindstorms NXT is a toy, but it is an important toy, like a piano or a chemistry set. It's one of those items that engages an imagination and possibly opens doors to new interests. Since our future is surely to be shared with robots--it's already started happening, just look at Roomba--those robots will need, at least initially, humans to program and maintain them. Those people, years from now, will likely remember their experiences with Lego Mindstorms. Out of the Box The main part of the kit is the NXT itself. It's about the size of an iPod (though a bit thicker) with a a loudspeaker, a monochrome LCD, and navigation keys on the front. This is the controller for the robot--it's brain, if you will. It has three ports on top for connecting to the servo motors and four ports on the bottom for connecting to four different sensors: Touch, Light, Sound, and Ultrasonic (see detail below).
The set includes Ethernet-like wires for connecting all of these to the NXT, as well as software and a basic USB cable for downloading programs from your computer. Then there are all the Lego parts, hundreds of them, and most are very small. It would be a good idea to get a plastic organizer for the different parts--it would not only make construction and storage easier but also part loss less likely. Hitting the Bricks The instructions for MNXT are simple, illustrated, and they gently take the new user on an introductory path through the system. The quick start guide promises a 30-minute robot building and programing intro, though for me it was closer to 50 (I'm a little old and slow). It starts with a simple diagnostic routine which shows you how to test the function of all sensors, then proceeds to step-by-step picture instructions for building a basic first robot. It's about as complex as building a piece of Ikea furniture.
Next, I installed the software. Be sure to check the system requirements (below). The software is well-designed and very intuitive. It comes with built-in video instructions on how to create your first simple program and download it to your NXT. Bringing It To Life Programming is the real gem in this system. It has a drag-and-drop interface using pre-programmed objects that you pull from a palette and snap to other objects. Each object is configurable. For example, the Sound object brings up a sub-window that allows you to choose between a tone and a list of sound files, set the volume, set duration, and so on. Little Lego bricks between the objects reinforce the idea that building a NXT program is like building a Lego model. Programming this way is much easier than, say, creating a web page from scratch. Lego even offers a software development kit for getting deeper into the programming.
There comes a genuine thrill from seeing something you've created--even something simple and silly as my first program--come to life in a robot. It's akin to seeing yourself on TV for the first time. I played that program a dozen times. The software contains "challenges," which are similar step-by-step instructions for creating and programming more complex models, such as a robotic arm that can "perform simple tasks and react to different colors." Each challenge is divided into smaller tasks with step-by-step building, programming, and testing guides for each task. Accessing your latest program once it's downloaded to the NXT is pretty easy. Lego has set it up so that you can execute it by pressing the big orange center button four times in a row after start-up. I was surprised to find out that you don't need a computer to program the NXT. You can program directly into the NXT Program submenu. Bluetooth Ready The NXT also has built-in Bluetooth wireless technology. If your computer has Bluetooth, you can test and download programs to the NXT without connecting the USB cable--a really handy feature if you're programming a complicated dance routine and you don't want your robot getting tripped up in cables. If your phone or PDA has Bluetooth, you might be able to use your device to control the robot. Best of all, Bluetooth allows you to create a network of up to three NXT devices. Think of the possibilities: three NXTs plus three sets of blocks and sensors equals bigger, more complex robots. My one and only complaint is that I wish the sensors had more "studs," those little round parts that allows Lego bricks to interlock. --Porter B. Hall Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Lego Mindstorms NXT My son has been wanting this set for a while and we got it for him for Christmas. He absolutely loves it! I don't know if he even read the instructions that came with the set - there are so many robot programs on the internet that he has tried. He is having a blast with it. But then again, my son is a computer geek. Rating: - Excellent giftExcellent gift for my 10 year-old boy. He's actually learning programming skills. Holds his attention much longer than the typical xmas gift:). Definitely worth the money! Rating:  - A 2-star, "Out-of-box" reviewA lot of good reviews have been written on this product, and on the strength of those reviews, I bought this kit for my 12yo son this past Christmas. Today, I want to share with your our out-of-box experience, so you know what you might encounter. My son was certainly eager to begin building his first robot on Christmas Day. The first suggested robot is the Tribot, I think it's called. It's a three-wheeled robot with claws. We installed the software on the kids' laptop and tried ... Read More Rating:  - The best of Legos and RobotsWe've only had it for a few days but the experience has been great. The Legos work like Legos do. My son is pretty good at putting them together and I'm good at the programming. I'd say the programming part could use one or two more tutorials showing how you can combine actions, but otherwise a fine toy. Rating: - Great introduction of computerized robot to kids, build interest in engineerThis one has engaged my 8-year son immediately for 1 whole week and he is able to follow all the instruction step by step by himself to build different robots, also he is creating his own ! This is a great interest building tool in robot/computer/engineer world for kids. 
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