BasicMicro - Forums

I was thinking about getting a Netbook and wanted to confirm....will the Basic Micro Studio software work OK on it and to program the Basic Micro microcontrollers? or any other microcontroller? Don't know a lot about Netbooks but they look like a good alternative when you do not need a full size laptop...

So long as the netbook is using windows xp, or a scimmed down version of windows 7, you should be fine. You will need a USB-serial adapter if you're working with serial/com ports.
However USB based stuff such as the mad-hatter, or the nano+programmer you'll be fine as is.

Only real downsides to using a netbook is the small screen and keyboard, You'll be doing a lot of scrolling, and with the small resolutions, it'll generally be pretty tough. You'll pretty much HAVE to use an external keyboard and mouse. And maybe an external monitor.

My programming computer is an old 1ghz pentium 3, with 512mb of ram and windows XP, and it works great. I use the onboard hardware serial, usb-serial, as well as USB for all my work. So Spec wise, a netbook would do just fine.

I'd suggest a full size laptop over a netbook any day, just typing up all the code is going to be a pain in the backside with a netbooks tiny keyboard.

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Universal Robot Controller

OK, thanks for the info. I am not happy with my work bench and looking to make some changes. I was thinking that a netbook might be the answer but I agree with what you say and it has been in the back of my mind too. I have an old laptop, 2 old computers and a new laptop so no shortage of machines to use. Just gotta get organized somehow....."organized"....my personal nemesis!

Battled a bit with getting one of the old computers up and running with the Nano8. Funny, I had it working last week but today, had a hard time finding the chip. I don't remember what I did but it finally found it. I think I closed the Studio, and relaunched it. I had two com ports to choose from today but last week, I only had the one...?

Just getting going with this stuff so I expect a few glitches like that. Thanks for the help.

Wisconsin, eh? Spent some time there this summer. Racine....very nice and the drive there and back was very scenic! Nice country side. I am north of Duluth.

Cheers,

Shawn

My two cents,

I teach classes at a local tech college and about the second or third class I notice that many if not all my students have given up "taking notes" using a netbook due to the small keyboard (and the small LCD I am sure is also an issue).

Just as an FYI I have started using two monitors on my bench (I have a Gigabyte case which sits on the floor) that I use; one monitor contains my code window and the other monitor has the output/debug window. I know that you are trying to save bench space but I really have found two monitors to be very helpful and I can always store USB cables or bins under the LCD panels.

I hope to replace the old but trusty Tektronix oscope with a new mixed DSO in a few months which will allow a lot of bench space for other uses (after I slowly justify why I need/want a new oscope to my wife).