Texas Instruments "Launch Pad" uC Dev Kit!

Just saw this on HAD.

Texas Instruments is trying to jump into the hobbyist market and claim some of the AVR / PIC / Basic Stamp users. The just released the Launch Pad dev Kit. It included a uC board, 2 extra uC's, USB cable, 2 IDE's and a USB Cable. Here is the big thing that sold me. It cost $4.30 shipped.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TI

What is LaunchPad?

LaunchPad is an easy-to-use development tool intended for beginners and experienced users alike for creating microcontroller-based applications. At $4.30, the LaunchPad offers everything you need to get started with your projects.

The LaunchPad development kit is a part of the MSP430 Value Line series. LaunchPad has an integrated DIP target socket that supports up to 20 pins, allowing MSP430 Value Line devices to be dropped into the LaunchPad board. Also, an on-board flash emulation tool allows direct interface to a PC for easy programming, debugging, and evaluation. Included are free and downloadable software development environments for writing and debugging software. LaunchPad can be used to create interactive solutions thanks to its on-board pushbuttons, LEDs, and extra input/output pins for easy integration of external devices.

Why LaunchPad?
The LaunchPad is an easy-to-use, affordable, and scalable introduction to the world of microcontrollers and the MSP430 family.

Easy-to-use – LaunchPad includes all of the hardware and software needed to get started. Open source projects and code examples help users get up and running quickly.

Affordable – For $4.30, the LaunchPad includes a development board, 2 programmable MSP430 microcontrollers, mini-USB cable, PCB connectors for expandability, external crystal for increased clock accuracy, and free & downloadable software integrated development environments (IDEs) – everything you need to get started today.

Scalable – The LaunchPad is a simple introduction to the MSP430 microcontroller family. As application requirements change, programs developed on the LaunchPad can be migrated to higher end MSP430 devices.

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So I ordered one and am thinking of ordering a few more for a giveaway or something on my site. at $4.30 its worth it for the USB Cable, header pins and uCs alone.

Link? I would like to check this out...

Oh my bad, I forgot the most important part.

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index....+launchpadwiki

Wow! That price is incredible! When you get it you gotta do a review of it.

I haven't ordered it yet. While I was posting this I was waiting on the order page to load. It is still timing out for me. Kinda like sparkfun on free day. But I will pick up one . @ $4.30 its less than what I usually spend on lunch.

If they do this right, I could see this really taking off if for no other reason than it's a LOT cheaper than any of the alternatives. Plus, TI probably makes a lot of the chips that other AVR boards use anyways, so getting it straight from the manufacturer will be cheaper in the long run too.

Well all of the uC I am seeing listed only do 1 and 2k flash so that's not a lot. My current project is using about 12k and the code is as clean as one can make it.

it looks like its got room for a uC that's 6-pins bigger, would that hold the memory you're looking for?

No. The whole uC line the board is designed for only does 1k and 2k flash.

ahhh ok I get it