This valuable little book offers a thorough introduction to the open-source electronics prototyping platform that's taking the design and hobbyist world by storm. Getting Started with Arduino gives you lots of ideas for Arduino projects and helps you get going on them right away. From getting organized to putting the final touches on your prototype, all the information you need is right in the book. Inside, you'll learn about:

• Interaction design and physical computing

• The Arduino hardware and software development environment

• Basics of electricity and electronics

• Prototyping on a solderless breadboard

• Drawing a schematic diagram

And more. With inexpensive hardware and open-source software components that you can download free, getting started with Arduino is a snap. To use the introductory examples in this book, all you need is a USB Arduino, USB A-B cable, and an LED. Join the tens of thousands of hobbyists who have discovered this incredible (and educational) platform. Written by the co-founder of the Arduino project, with illustrations by Elisa Canducci, Getting Started with Arduino gets you in on the fun! This 128-page book is a greatly expanded follow-up to the author's original short PDF that's available on the Arduino website.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 21 Ratings

Great, but be ready to buy some more parts! - 2009-06-24
Reviewer Rating:
While some reviewers decry the intro "fluff" chapters and the simplicity of some of the projects, by the end of this short book, you will have been exposed to many of the capabilities of the Arduino microcontroller. I found the book's projects to be very informative and fun. One warning to buyers: You will need to buy a few more electronic parts to take full advantage of this book and it's projects. Here's what you should get:
1. 5-10 x 10K-Ohm resistors
2. 1 x Momentary push button switch (4 pin), compatible with a breadboard
3. 5 x LEDs of differing colors (most will work with the 3-5V output of the Arduino).
4. 1 x MOSFET or 1 x 5V actuated relay (this is to turn on/off motors)
5. 1 x solder-less breadboard
6. 1 x jumper wire kit (various lengths and colors of short wires)
7. 1 x LDR (light dependent resistor)
8. 1 x 9V (or similar magnitude) battery case with leads for a breadboard
9. 1 x small motor (5-9V).

It seems like quite a bit, but if you get and use these parts with the projects, you will learn how to use sensors to take in data from the environment, have the Arduino process it, and then drive a response (in the form of lighting LEDs, turning on motors, etc.). Fortunately, the Arduino itself is USB-powered, so the other power sources (i.e. the battery case) will only be needed to run things like the motor.

Save your money - 2009-05-30
Reviewer Rating:
This book is very very basic. Any of it's information could be found online with a few clicks. Contains a few examples but nothing more then blinking LEDs. I was finished with the book in 1/2 hour.

Perfect for non-programmer interested in the Arduino - 2009-07-22
Reviewer Rating:
This is an excellent book for a non-programmer wanting to learn basic programming skills & projects for the Arduino. I didn't know anything about programming, and this book walked me through all the basics in a very easy to understand manner. After doing the projects in the book with my new Arduino Duemilanove I was able to create cool little programs with if/else statements & sensors after only a week.
I highly recommend this as the starter book for the Arduino.

Don't buy this book. Do more Internet Searching - 2009-09-30
Reviewer Rating:
It's pretty simple. You can get everything, (and more) from the Internet WITHOUT purchasing this book. In fact, at one time, you could dowload the entire contents of this exact book from the Arduino website.

The Arduino platform, and the development environment, are excellent. Sadly, for the cost of this book and shipping, you can almost pay for another Arduino Duemilanove board (in kit form).

Again, nothing wrong with Arduino, great project, fantastic tool.

Arduino - 2009-09-19
Reviewer Rating:
This is a super basic manual, shows how to wire up a blinking led and then shows how to wire up a light sensor,
a better book would be 'making things talk',

Does not talk about any other modules that are available to hook up.

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