Experience with the new EV3

[JopieK]

Last week I received the EV3 for testing and promotional purposes. I handed it over to my high school students to work things out. First impression is good, software (educational beta) looks great as well. I think it is very expensive though, 460€

Anyone else already testing the EV3

[Ramacco]

460euro will be Education price I guess?

Retail will be around 350 normally.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Ramacco

[JopieK]

The educational set is also more complete including a gyro etc so that makes sense.

The educational software is another 160€ or so fro single and €450 for a site license. The software is much better though. My students had some problems figuring out some differences between NXT-G and the EV3 software including setting two motors in a pair.

Software looks a bit like wedo, some of my fellow trainers that had a crash course said that it is works well though (but they are no software engineers so I might think differently).

[Someonenamedjon]

I think it's not only really expensive but it's not compatible with the old NXT 2.0 that i have, i would rather go for another cheap 2.0 and expansion kit.

[TasV]

What are the motors in the EV3 like? I would really like TLC to think about making different motors with inbuilt rotation encoders like the NXT 2.0 motor has but in different configurations like PF motors. My school has just spent $4000 on new NXT 2.0 kits for me... now I need to save for some EV3! Can you use NXT-G one them? I assume other languages like RobotC and LeJOS (etc) still work on them too right?

Edited March 25, 2013 by TasV

[Burf2000]

The Ev3 set comes with 2 different motors, one with the same spec as the old NXT 2 motor (slightly different shape) and one like a medium motor with a rotation sensor in it.

[Someonenamedjon]

I'm not sure if nxt-g will work on it, but other languages will probably work on them because it is very universal. $4000 on JUST you? How many sets did they buy for you to keep!

[TasV]

I've started a Lego robotics class at the school I teach at and have bought 4 new sets, bringing me up to 7 full kits, plus test mats, sensors, software, teaching resources, and Omni wheels etc... so not for me personally... for the school and I have to run the course and organise the competitions. I wonder if the new M-type motor will work with NXT 2.0 bricks... that would be excellent!

Edited March 26, 2013 by TasV

[Jim]

I've started a Lego robotics class at the school I teach at and have bought 4 new sets, bringing me up to 7 full kits, plus test mats, sensors, software, teaching resources, and Omni wheels etc... so not for me personally... for the school and I have to run the course and organise the competitions. I wonder if the new M-type motor will work with NXT 2.0 bricks... that would be excellent!

I'm pretty sure the motors are compatible.

If you are interested, you can read this topic:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=77892

[Tacker]

Long way off before we can get one

[Ramacco]

Motors and sensors only are backwards compatible. So the medium motor won't work on a NXT 2.0. Look at the chart made by Bazmarc.

http://bazmarc.ca/bazmarc/EV3.html

Edited March 26, 2013 by Ramacco

[jonwil]

The question I want answered is whether LEGO is going to comply with the license for all the software they are using (e.g. Linux kernel) and release the source code where required to by the license (e.g. license for Linux kernel requires release of the source code including any specific changes made in the version that's running on the EV3)