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 28 Ratings

Got me started - 2009-12-03
Reviewer Rating:
I've never done anything with electronics before, but I got through this book over the course of a couple days. Surprisingly few difficulties for a beginner. I liked the casual style of the book. The Arduino language was easy to learn and I found myself making adjustments to the code between projects. You learn by doing in this book, so it doesn't feel like arduous studying. Basically, a chapter will introduce a project with some new functions that you haven't learned before - you'll build it and write the sketch (the Arduino code) and then learn what you did. It was fun.
Another reviewer mentioned getting some extras with the book and I heeded his advice. I bought the Arduino Duemilanove Starter Kit through Amazon and it included pretty much everything I needed to go through this book:
(I'll modify the other reviewer's list a bit)
1. 5 x 330 Ohm resistors
2. 1 x Momentary push button switch
3. 6 x LEDs
4. 1 x solder-less breadboard
5. 1 x jumper wire kit
6. The Aruino Duemilanove of course
The things above are all included in that kit.
The only other things you'll want to buy are:
7. LDR (light dependent resistor) [fun sensor to use]
8. Some 10k Ohm resistors [these are recommended in the book, though you can probably get away with the 330 Ohms]

The following devices (9-12) are shown in a setup on page 71 - but with no explanation of how to use them. If you know electronics already, you could probably figure it out. If you're a beginner - I'd say no need to buy (9-12) for use with this book, because although they are pictured - there is no explanation or code.
9. 1 x 9V (or similar magnitude) battery case with leads for a breadboard
10. 1 x small motor (5-9V).
11. 1 x MOSFET or 1 x 5V actuated relay (this is to turn on/off motors)
12. (A diode is pictured, but no indication of what type).

If you want to really build a permanent lamp with the last project the author recommends the items below (13-16). I'd say this is unnecessary. You can build a temporary version with just items 1-8.
13. IKEA "FADO" table lamp
14. RGB LED (RED, GREEN, BLUE all in one LED with four leads)
15. Soldering Iron
16. Hot glue gun

My three criticisms of the book are:
a. No explanation for using a motor
b. The final project is easy to set up, but it introduces the Processing language so you don't understand half of the project (unless you can understand Processing). That said, you do get to combine all the other stuff you did in the book - so that makes it a worthwhile project.
c. Leaves you wishing for more content. It was fun to go through - but pretty quick and light.

Getting Started with Arduino - 2010-02-07
Reviewer Rating:
You really need an instruction book to get you started with the Arduino board. This book gave a good overview of the board and had excellent illustrations. I just wished there were more projects listed in the book. I recommend this book highly and am glad to have it for reference.

Great book for a beginner! - 2009-12-27
Reviewer Rating:
Being a high school student interested in circuitry and such, one of my friends pointed me to an arduino. Both of us had no prior experience with it, but we both decided to get one for Christmas, and I can't even start to tell you how HELPFUL THIS BOOK IS!

This book really got me going and explained in an easy-to-understand way how to create some basic projects. I have already created most of the sample projects from the book by just getting a starter kit as well!

However, I gave it a 4 star because it is somewhat short. Yes, it is about 150 pages, but most of the pages consist of sometimes 2-3 pages of just repetitive coding that is only explaining one new concept, but it does help to see how all of the code works together.

Thinking about getting it? Go for it. It's WAY better than searching all of Google for some help. Trust me.

Heres the kit I also bought to go along with the book.

Arduino Duemilanove Starter Kit

Great Introductory Book - 2009-12-24
Reviewer Rating:
This is a great introductory book on using the Arduino board. It teaches you a multitude of basic techniques that enable you to develop your own applications. It is clearly written and suitable for the most novice Arduino user. A great way to appreciate today's digital technology!

For the Arduino beginner! - 2009-12-12
Reviewer Rating:
This book started out as an online tutorial by one of the "inventors" of the Arduino microcontroller board. Later it was removed from the internet and published as a introductory reference to the electronics and programming knowledge required to experiment with the Arduino. If you are looking at this book or this review, you probably already know what an Arduino board is.
If not, maybe you should learn, huh? The cost of the Arduino and this book is small, and if you're interested in electronics, robotics or programming, you will likely find the Arduino and this book very fascinating.
By the time I bought this book, I had read other online tutorials and had learned quite a lot about Arduino and the Arduino programming environment (Integrated Development Environment, or IDE). As a result, this book was a bit elementary for me by the time I read it. However it will be a VALUABLE introduction to the Arduino newbie.
The book begins by explaining microcontrollers, why and how the Arduino board was developed, and takes the reader through a series of experiments using LEDS, sensors and other neat stuff to get him acquainted with the Arduino and other boards that attach to it, called "shields". If you read this book, perform all the experiments and research the references a little bit, you will become adept (not necessarily proficient) at using and utilizing the Arduino.
I highly recommend this book for those who are VERY new to microcontrollers, especially the ATMEL series of controllers. If you are already familiar with the Arduino and its Integrated Development Environment, spend your money on a slightly more advanced book or, better yet, another Arduino shield to experiment with!

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