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If you're starting out, you'll most likely find there's a PicAxe in the right performance/price category to suit you in the range available, and they're already releasing more.
Others have introduced the PicAxe range quite nicely already, so see their sites in the links below. When mine arrive, I'll be underway myself, and will post the first project results here once it's done. Quick update, they arrived, and i've made my first picaxe project board.
Q: What will I need to get started?
A: Very little. Buy the Starter kit, and use your own PC. The PICNIK box is a very practical and versatile alternative to the standard starter kit. To extend the capabilities of the kit can require only a few more cheap and easily available components.
Q: Which PicAxe is right for me?
A: The PicAxe-08 is the best to begin with. An '08' kit will do a lot, and is the cheapest.
Q: Where do I buy it from?
A: See the above links for sellers: Rev-Ed in the UK, MicroZed & Oatley in Aussie, SICom in NZ... At this moment Rev-Ed (UK) and MicroZed (Aus) seem to have the best range for worldwide sale, but this is growing rapidly as it's still in early stages.
Q: What will it cost?
A: Surprisingly little, and much less than alternatives. Check the prices on the seller's sites, and take into account the exchange rate, and of course postage when picking a supplier to order from. You'll be back when you see the cost of alternatives to PicAxe (The Stamp is prohibitively expensive, and comparable in power).
Q: What support do I get?
A: Although PicAxe is new, there's already the discussion forums on Rev-Ed's site, the Yahoo! site..., and more than one electronics magazine is publishing regular articles on PicAxe, with more waiting to be published. PicAxe websites are sprouting up rapidly too, so there's already an enthusiastic growing community of people supporting newbies.
Q: I already have experience with electronics design / microcontrollers ...
A: You may only need the PicAxe chips themselves (plus development software), and make the rest yourself. Read the datasheets at Rev-Ed (PicAxe-08, PicAxe-18A, faq, tech-faq, BASIC commands, tutorials, download cable and interface circuits) and if it looks like kindergarten all over again, then the PicAxe micro and the Development software is all you'll need.
Either way, they're super-cheap to try, and do have their place (horses for courses).
Q: Why is this all you've got on your page?
A: I've only just made this page. I plan on encouraging more robotics with PicAxe.
Q: Last question?
A: For now :)
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