Been looking out for this and this is cheapest it's been for months. Down to £210 on asda website but if you spend over £100 you get £20 off so makes it & £190. Plus free click and collect
Top comments
stringsonfire
22 Sep 153#8
Totally disagree. If software professionals did as you suggest, they'd never build a single product!
Get your kid into this as soon as they're interested - if a child shows technical interest and ability, encourage it as best you can. You can view this as a toy, or as a gateway into computing and an excellent way to encourage your child towards a rare combination of creativity and logic. There will always be new products coming out. That's industry. Holding off on, say, the latest Apple product may make sense, but your child will only be a child once - make the most of that time to help them learn and develop as much as possible!
I'm not saying Lego is the only way to do this, I'm just noting the difference between 'buying a toy' vs 'investing towards a child's future'.
As a career software professional, previously a child, I speak from experience.
All comments (29)
tuncsi
22 Sep 15#1
Would this be interesting to a 5 years old who crazy about robots if his dad builds and programs it?
ysdevil to tuncsi
22 Sep 15#3
I haven't got one, but I have got a 6 year old interested in Lego and building stuff etc, I have given this some thought in the past.
I would hold off a few years, these are the reasons I came up with for me.
Because they have changed it before and made it better,
Because he won't get the use out of it he should till he's older.
Because they may come out with a completely different model.
Because it may get cheaper in the meantime.
Etc, software may change, the robotics world is changing so fast, don't jump in now, wait till he's a decent age to use it and get it then.
Hope this gives you some thought!
Crustybeaver to tuncsi
22 Sep 15#11
Do bears poop in the woods?
bensimmo to tuncsi
23 Sep 15#15
Yes, if the child has the interest in building it and playing with it. I've had this since last year and you get instructions for the first build and isn't too difficult, my son built it (a few years older) but he could have done it when younger and should be easy enough for daddy. both together and they'll do it fine. It is the fiddly bits that are the hard part as with all Lego.
You then get other models in PDF/app/website to follow, all there ready to build, download the program to the brick and go. no programming actually needed, but a budding person will alter and play with the program. it's all visual.
then once they have built, altered and made through he models you can keep going as they wish ...
So think of it as a Build A Robot and play at its basic, and a full sensor and control system at it most complicated.
you will need a PC to do the programming and to add more fun for the kid a Bluetooth enabled tablet/phone to control it, but that is not essential. Don't worry about future proof, it'll be around for a while as are the NXTs. It's the principles that matter, not it specs when a child.
also a battery charger and a lot of rechargeable batteries (Amazon basics will be good for that).
johnnysorrow
22 Sep 15#2
Still use my Mindstorms NXT, would love this
tuncsi
22 Sep 15#4
You are most likely right there. :smiley: thanks for the reply. I will think it through. His dad built one before and programmed. The small one is taking apart broken electric staff and taking out parts and collecting them for his robot. I thought this would make his life a bit easier. :smiley:
tuncsi
22 Sep 151#5
Ok who buys this dont forget topcashback. It is 6.3% on toys
Speculator to tuncsi
22 Sep 15#6
Don't know about Quidco but Asda never pays TCB. It tracks but Asda always decline the cashback in the end.
tuncsi
22 Sep 15#7
oh wasnt aware of this.
stringsonfire
22 Sep 153#8
Totally disagree. If software professionals did as you suggest, they'd never build a single product!
Get your kid into this as soon as they're interested - if a child shows technical interest and ability, encourage it as best you can. You can view this as a toy, or as a gateway into computing and an excellent way to encourage your child towards a rare combination of creativity and logic. There will always be new products coming out. That's industry. Holding off on, say, the latest Apple product may make sense, but your child will only be a child once - make the most of that time to help them learn and develop as much as possible!
I'm not saying Lego is the only way to do this, I'm just noting the difference between 'buying a toy' vs 'investing towards a child's future'.
As a career software professional, previously a child, I speak from experience.
Keeleyc
22 Sep 151#9
Completely agree. My 7 year old son has autism and gets bored of the usual toys easily but really is into technical things. Bought him the Lego motors set for his birthday and the things he's made with it are so clever, way beyond his years. By playing with it, he's learning how things work mechanically. We've got this for him for Christmas because I know it's one thing he will constantly play with and will increase his knowledge on programming aswell as engineering.
arvydasj
22 Sep 15#10
Thanks OP for posting this! Been waiting for this to drop in price for a while. Ordered one :smiley:
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Opening post
Top comments
Get your kid into this as soon as they're interested - if a child shows technical interest and ability, encourage it as best you can. You can view this as a toy, or as a gateway into computing and an excellent way to encourage your child towards a rare combination of creativity and logic. There will always be new products coming out. That's industry. Holding off on, say, the latest Apple product may make sense, but your child will only be a child once - make the most of that time to help them learn and develop as much as possible!
I'm not saying Lego is the only way to do this, I'm just noting the difference between 'buying a toy' vs 'investing towards a child's future'.
As a career software professional, previously a child, I speak from experience.
All comments (29)
I would hold off a few years, these are the reasons I came up with for me.
Because they have changed it before and made it better,
Because he won't get the use out of it he should till he's older.
Because they may come out with a completely different model.
Because it may get cheaper in the meantime.
Etc, software may change, the robotics world is changing so fast, don't jump in now, wait till he's a decent age to use it and get it then.
Hope this gives you some thought!
You then get other models in PDF/app/website to follow, all there ready to build, download the program to the brick and go. no programming actually needed, but a budding person will alter and play with the program. it's all visual.
then once they have built, altered and made through he models you can keep going as they wish ...
So think of it as a Build A Robot and play at its basic, and a full sensor and control system at it most complicated.
you will need a PC to do the programming and to add more fun for the kid a Bluetooth enabled tablet/phone to control it, but that is not essential. Don't worry about future proof, it'll be around for a while as are the NXTs. It's the principles that matter, not it specs when a child.
also a battery charger and a lot of rechargeable batteries (Amazon basics will be good for that).
Get your kid into this as soon as they're interested - if a child shows technical interest and ability, encourage it as best you can. You can view this as a toy, or as a gateway into computing and an excellent way to encourage your child towards a rare combination of creativity and logic. There will always be new products coming out. That's industry. Holding off on, say, the latest Apple product may make sense, but your child will only be a child once - make the most of that time to help them learn and develop as much as possible!
I'm not saying Lego is the only way to do this, I'm just noting the difference between 'buying a toy' vs 'investing towards a child's future'.
As a career software professional, previously a child, I speak from experience.