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Maximite BASIC SD Card Computer Kit from Altronics (1/2 Price) at $44.95 + $6.60 P/H or Pickup

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Maximite BASIC SD Card Computer Kit from Altronics (1/2 Price) at $44.95 + $6.60 P/H or Pickup
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cheongk on 05/05/2014 - 21:39 altronics.com.au (353 clicks)

This is an electronics kit for the enthusiast who wants to build their own embedded computer running Basic. It is on sale at 1/2 price (RRP: $89.95). I bought mine from the store (save postage costs).

(SC March ‘11) Ideal for datalogging, monitoring & switching. Utilising the new Microchip PIC32 processor, this powerful embedded computer can read/save programs on an SD card. A keyboard input & video output is provided, plus 20 digital/analog inputs and outputs. Utilises BASIC programming language allowing a massive scope of applications. Note: For ease of construction, the main chip has been pre-soldered to the PCB.

Kit Difficulty Rating: 2 Star

Features
128K RAM
USB connection
Powerful BASIC interpreter
Requires 9V power supply (M 9237A)
SD card sold separately.

Maximite was developed by an Australian Geoff Graham. More information can be found at his website http://geoffg.net/MonoMaximite.html

Electrical & Electronics Electronics Kit Embedded Computer Maximite

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closed Comments

  • altomic on 05/05/2014 - 21:43

    sounds like a reputable company.

  • muncan on 05/05/2014 - 21:59
    +5

    Are you keeping up with the Commodore?

    • Jackson on 05/05/2014 - 23:08
      +3

      The Commodore is keeping up with you

  • retiredfeline on 05/05/2014 - 21:59

    I think you could do more with a RPi for around the same price these days.

    • NosDan on 05/05/2014 - 22:06
      +1

      yup but usually altronics works in crazy huge markups so its probably a $1 device with a bazillion percent markup.

      also BBB>RPi ;)

  • jv on 05/05/2014 - 22:09
    +3

    So they've got some stock left over from the 80's ?

  • AMLagonda on 05/05/2014 - 22:23
    +1

    What is this, something like a commodore 128??

  • Gnostikos on 05/05/2014 - 22:45
    +5

    Powerful BASIC interpreter

    Easy now, slow down there turbo. I'm still getting over FORTRAN. Going through punch cards like you wouldn't believe.

    • jv on 05/05/2014 - 23:27
      +1

      I'm still getting over FORTRAN

      Ha ha showing your age, I've already progressed to something more modern, ALGOL…

  • cheongk on 05/05/2014 - 22:48
    +3

    The maximite is targeted towards the electronics enthusiast.

    You can measure voltages, temperatures, frequency and record the data to the SD card, all under program control. You can also detect switch or contact closure and respond by activating relays, turning on lights or whatever.

    Or it can detect intruders. Or measure voltages. Or sense water levels. Or log phone numbers. Or teach children computers and programming.

    • NosDan on 05/05/2014 - 22:53

      so, like a really slow and poorly speced RPi or BBB which are both around the same price but far superior in every way?

      how is this glorified pic chip better?

      • cornbeef on 05/05/2014 - 23:29

        it's retro and retro is cool

      • luka on 06/05/2014 - 00:54
        +1

        With Maximite/PIC you get easier/faster access to the low level stuff. Just as an example, as cheongk said, Maximite can measure voltage and frequency directly. RasPi only has digital pins so you would need an ADC and measuring frequency is very difficult. It's GPIO is very slow compared to PIC. Maximite has no OS (in classical sense) so realtime operations are easier done. And so on.

        Horses for courses.

    • retiredfeline on 06/05/2014 - 00:37

      Or it can detect intruders.

      Provided they are not too fast. :)

      But honestly if you wanted something like this, you could do it cheaper with Arduino. Or you could pay about the same amount of money and get a RPi or BBB with a full fledged multitasking OS.

      • luka on 06/05/2014 - 01:01

        The PIC in Maximite is way faster than Arduino, although it does not have the "cool" factor.

        And not everything requires a full fledged multitasking OS. Or OS at all…

        • retiredfeline on 06/05/2014 - 01:09
          +1

          Having the OS take care of the multitasking means the programmer doesn't have to work it into the program.

          Plus the Arduino has a far larger community than this. Face it, Maximite is 2011 technology,

  • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2014 - 01:17
    +3

    I still own a Commodore 64, and a VIC-20. Maybe they'd like a playmate.

    • NosDan on 06/05/2014 - 01:21
      +2

      and a VIC-20

      did yours come with shatner awesomeness?

      • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2014 - 01:33
        +1

        Yep, it was chockers with shat.

        Shat-tastic.

  • cheongk on 06/05/2014 - 08:30
    +2

    You can't really compare Maximite to RPi or BBB. It would be more like the Arduino but at a different level - a lot simpler.

    To use it (apart from building the kit), you don't need to install any compiler on your PC or learn how to use an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) or learn what Linux is and how to use it. All these can be a steep learning curve for a non-technical person. As Maximite comes with a chip that has been programmed to run Basic, you can just code and "run", slowly building up your skills in programming. Basic is an interpreted language - which means that you don't have to compile it.

    As Luka said its "Horses for courses".

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