inputs.text: great starter kit - think kit ideal someone new electronics programming someone familiar environments wants fun quickstart learn arduino decided get range sensors output devices includes not present parts bins well convenient box platform supports arduino breadboard bookletsure enough time could order parts better still order parts set suited goals arduino parts could less expensive way might lose savings shipping costs vendors would not get nifty box platform holds arduino breadboard instructions breadboard layout guidesthis kit good kids adults electricity voltages low enough probably would not feel shock unless maybe hands wet aside physically breaking delicate components not easily \\fried\\ electrical misuse inexpensive readily available onlinethe arduino boardi got latest arduino uno r3 expected worked exactly expected right box like ease interfacing commonly available input output devices types something cant easily brand pc easy opensource programming environment arduino appears high qualitythe popularity arduino growing rapidly among electronics experimenters roboteers others want build intelligence electronics designs youre reading probably know thatthe clock speed arduino processor chip three times speed original ibm pc arduino used regular computer extend whats possible beyond pc mac sensing controlling monitoring lot morethe breadboard holding platformthe breadboard included transparent variety would preferred white one guess transparent one helpful students never played one easy see internal connections connections easy figure used breadboards years prefer white easier see wires componentsthe holding platform plastic clips knobs fasten arduino board took see risk breaking plastic got fasten stay put reliably also place next selfadhesive pad breadboard used fasten semipermanently next board convenient place ithonestly holding platform no big deal small piece plywood cut size would work fine small amount ingenuity could even rig fastener make easy remove replace arduinothe infamous boxi seen people complain plastic box easy break tabs hold lid cheap plastic etci dont see fuss seems like decent quality plastic not fragile yes maybe take care lifting tabs take lid like design lid taken set open box lid storage use not way like hinged lid would inside compartments designed perfectly various parts included keep nicely organized unlike power tools not hard get everything back place time put away theres room parts toosparkfun sells kit without box 5 order also sell box likethe partsthe amazon description list description good selection trying wide variety experiments includes things might not chosen try things might not otherwise tried coolthe wires solid wires stripped ends nice tip ends make easy work withproject bookletthe \\inventors guide\\ gem lot useful information well organized not everything need not reference book rather basic info get started exhaust get book like arduino cookbook second edition find lot info code libraries online use imaginationsince amazon not describe projects heres listblinking ledscontrolling toy motorcontrolling servomaking bad musicresponding buttonstwisting volume knobdetecting ambient lightreading temperaturecontrolling big devicesmixing led colorsmeasuring bendsusing \\soft\\ potentiometereach project includes explanation description code entire code downloaded ardxorg also find expanded programming guide info place ask question things try not work ways making better web site projectthe descriptions concise clear better least one beginners book read aimed \\evil genius\\breadboard guidesthe kit even includes pieces paper size breadboard printed layout parts wires idea put breadboard use guide wiring process no holes youll push wires paper first time used no big deal clever solution beginners not something experienced people likely usebottom linethere lot fun learning kit need computer use pc mac linux laptop desktop get everything need get started nothing else buy perhaps accessories might want buy parts amazon description list description good selection trying wide variety experiments includes things might not chosen try things might not otherwise tried cool wires solid wires stripped ends nice tip ends make easy work project booklet \\inventors guide\\ gem lot useful information well organized not everything need not reference book rather basic info get started exhaust get book like arduino cookbook second edition find lot info code libraries online use imagination since amazon not describe projects heres list blinking leds controlling toy motor controlling servo making bad music responding buttons twisting volume knob detecting ambient light reading temperature controlling big devices mixing led colors measuring bends using \\soft\\ potentiometer project includes explanation description code entire code downloaded ardxorg also find expanded programming guide info place ask question things try not work ways making better web site project descriptions concise clear better least one beginners book read aimed \\evil genius\\ breadboard guides kit even includes pieces paper size breadboard printed layout parts wires idea put breadboard use guide wiring process no holes youll push wires paper first time used no big deal clever solution beginners not something experienced people likely use bottom line lot fun learning kit need computer use pc mac linux laptop desktop get everything need get started nothing else buy perhaps accessories might want buy