NO STARCH PRESS --> Many Lego NXT Books

[DLuders]

Over on TechnicBRICKS Blogspot, Conchas pointed out that the Japanese "Tora no Maki" books that will be available in English in October 2010. I clicked on the publisher's link that he provided, and found 18 wonderful Lego books published by "No Starch Press" -- http://nostarch.com/catalog/lego . Click on the link above for a full description of the books pictured below.

I own the "Forbidden Lego" book, and like the fun toy gun that shoots Lego plates. Does anybody own any these books? If so, can you comment on them?

[Jetro]

I own several (and quite a few more from other publishers.

To mention them in the same order you have placed them...

- The art of LMS NXT programming

Nice if you are 10 to 14 year old, but the book was a little too slow and 'chummy' for me

- Forbidden LEGO

Don't own it but read it when someone showed it to me at an event. If you don't mind cutting, gluiing and using non-LEGO parts it is a great book.

- The LMS NXT 2.0 Discovery book

Has everything the other LMS book lacks: interesting models, good explanations without getting chummy or patronizing, you can easily adapt it to your speed by doing as many or few of the proposed challenges as you want to... I absolutely recommend the book!

I'd love to get PDF versions of the three LEGO Technic Idea books...

I'd also love to have a closer look at LMS NXT Thinking Robots and Virtual LEGO

[Andy D]

I just received "The Art of LEGO Mindstorms NXT-G Programming" I like it so far (and I am way, way older than 14) it looks like a very good introduction to design, programming and debugging, I hope it lives up to Terry's intentions.

I Have the NXT-2.0 Discovery book (just got it a week or so ago and it seems very good).

The Idea book and One Kit Wonders are somewhat classics and very good.

I have David's original Inventor's guide, it was my first NXT book and very helpful, I plan to ge the NXT 2.0 Inventors guide just because.

Downloaded (and paid for) The "LEGO Technic Tora no Maki" URL: LEGO Technic Tora no Maki and it looks really interesting. You can check it out free, but if you decide to keep it, please pay for it as it will encourage him and others to publish more PDF books. The structures are really simple but for me some were eye openers.

Andy D

[Blakbird]

I don't own any of them but want several. I especially wanted "Virtual LEGO" when I got started with LDraw, but ended up figuring out most of it myself. With all the changes in MLCAD, LDView, LSynth, and LPub since the book was written, I'm guessing that it is significantly out of date. Holly-Wood has some great free tutorials though.

[Silcantar]

I have Jin Sato's and The Unofficial Builder's guide. Other than the MIBO project (the dog on the cover), Jin Sato's wasn't particularly interesting. There was a rather basic robotic arm, and a couple walkers, but nothing I hadn't already built. I haven't looked at The Unofficial Builder's guide in years, but the only useful technique I remember was one for building spheres using only bricks, which is somewhat limited. There may have been some basic SNOT techniques, too. Neither are particularly interesting. I would recommend, however, Lego Mindstorms Masterpieces from Syngress (if it's still in print). Some great advanced projects and interesting techniques, but a little outdated (Robotics Invention System based). Still useful, though.

[DLuders]

Here's a 7-second YouTube video from Nostarch1 about the "Powerful, automatic, LEGO gun. From the book Forbidden LEGO, published by No Starch Press (http://snipurl.com/1p02h ):

[Fyredog]

anyone know of excellent lego building programs for MAC?

[Silcantar]

anyone know of excellent lego building programs for MAC?

Bricksmith

Lego Digital Designer

Those are the only ones I know of.

[Burf2000]

I own a few of these but the main one I had a look at was the NXT thinking robot one which I was disappointed due to the fact it has sooooo much potential and no bloody code in the book. I spoke to the Author and well the books designed to show people how to make cool models, not how they actually work, Very gutted!

[Jetro]

I own a few of these but the main one I had a look at was the NXT thinking robot one which I was disappointed due to the fact it has sooooo much potential and no bloody code in the book. I spoke to the Author and well the books designed to show people how to make cool models, not how they actually work, Very gutted!

I had tyhat one on my list of possibles. One less expense I guess. :)

[Burf2000]

I had tyhat one on my list of possibles. One less expense I guess. :)

If you want to build the models mate, that's cool, if you want to know how it actually works and tweak it etc. not so good. You can download source code for one of them but I want to know more than a download link

[DLuders]

[bUMP]

LETSGOGRE posted this

of "A reptile like creature from David J. Perdue and Laurens Valk's book The Unofficial Lego Mindstroms NXT 2.0 Inventor's Guide, programmed in NXC to avoid obstacles using its US sensor":