Lego previews Boost robotic kit – cheaper junior version of Mindstorms
cnet.com
cnet.com
https://education.lego.com/en-us/support/mindstorms-ev3/deve...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms#Programming_la...
Given that since Mindstorms first came out, systems-on-a-chip like Raspberry PI and Arduino are down to $10 or $20 dollars, why hasn't Lego brought its Mindstorm prices down?
I loved, loved, loved Lego as a child and my kids love them still (even my 15-year old) but their prices reflect Scandinavian economics and not middle-class U.S. economics. I've come to dread walking down the Lego aisle at the toy store knowing that I'll have to drop $120 on a non-trivial set. I can't stand the thought that we live in a world where Lego bricks are an elitist toy.
So, does Lego really believe that if I want my kid to play with robotics outside of school, I want to spend as much as an iPad or Chromebook for a one-chip microcontroller? That's just price gouging.
The only complaint I have about Lego is the price. The kits are very expensive, even the basic kits that don't feature licensed superheroes or star wars. A little police truck or car is $20. My understanding is that the expense comes from the precision with which the bricks must me manufactured, but $160 for a robotics kit is still prohibitively expensive for many people.
That said, this kit does appear awesome.