Clayton, Paralax sells small microprocessor based project boards with manuals and containing information for learning to program the chip. The main site is here: http://www.parallax.com/ Perhaps take a look at the "Getting Started" link on the left of the page. There are a number or project boards for beginners. Damien ----- Original Message ---- From: Clayton Smith <ces.fci at gmail.com> To: tclug-list at mn-linux.org Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 9:27:36 PM Subject: [tclug-list] OT: suggestions on exploring PIC/micochips/etc recently I have picked up a slight interest in looking into programming for hardware or at least the concept of being able to program a USB/LCD device etc... I hate it when people ask these kinds of questions ("hey I'm a noob at $x what should I do, what books should I read blahblah") but I'm asking anyway since I feel at a loss at where to start. A few things I think would find most appealing to hear about: - a college or local place that offers beginners with hands on learning about programming a microchip (or maybe just basic electronics) -- or maybe you know a place where I can simply volunteer and get some hands on - a place that offers an assembly class - a good assembly book (I'm going through one right now actually but I'm open to more, also, has anyone read Andrew Tanenbaum's Operating Systems Design & Implementation, what did you think of it?) maybe you are wondering why I have this interest.. well, the past week or two I've been reading various books which I suppose leave me a little inspired.. they are as follows: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software Difference Engine: Charles Babbage And The Quest To Build The First Computer Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software Just for Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution then some more technical books mixed in that I can have difficulty pushing through due to them addressing details before introducing the concept or explaining it via the relationships between ideas (etc) Clayton _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota tclug-list at mn-linux.org http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list