Testimonials - smileymicros.com

Response from a teacher who couldn't get his school to use Butterflies

They decided to go with Parallex and basic stamps. It’s stupid. It costs too much, and you don’t get a chance to learn C. I refused to teach the class, so my teaching career is on hold I guess. It’s a disservice to the students to rely on that crap. If you are going to have a career in electronics and microcontrollers, you need to know C. At the price of the Butterfly, each student could have had a controller to take home, at the price of the parallex, they have to share the devices (it will be 4 students to a device) and they cannot take them home. The parallex boards do not have anything more than the butterfly did, but they are over $150 apeice. I won’t even get into the price of the site license for their software.

I do like your book and the butterfly very much. I have some projects I will do since I now have evenings free. If you are interested, I will send you some of the projects when I am done, and you may post them on your site.

Welby Hall
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Amazon Review:

Fun!, October 9, 2005
Reviewer: Kenneth S. Shinn "roofis27" (kandahar, afghanistan)

I studied Motorola HC16s in college eight years ago using assembly, and took two terms of C programming (non-embedded) and put both on the shelf since. Almost a decade later, I bought Pardue's book to get back into programming and electronics, and in two weeks with the $20 butterfly I was fluently programming embedded systems. I've had the book two months now and occasionally reference it, but can now sit down with a data sheet and jam out code. The book starts at a very basic level and progresses through most of the features on an AVR. Along with the book's basic usefulness, two additional points make this a great deal: 1) The book was fun to read, and 2) Joe Pardue often replies to posts on the avrfreaks.com forum, which has been a great help in my learning of embedded C. Five stars!
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Joe;

I got the book and the butterfly board a few weeks ago, and it really made my life a whole lot easier. Its the clearest how-to manual I have ever read on any matter, yet alone the rats nest that is microcontroller programming. It covers all the important topics for real world applications, in a simple, easy to follow manner. You should consider a follow on series, with perhaps more advanced functions, PID etc, and I 'm sure it would sell equally well.

Peter
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I just want to congratulate you on a splendid book. I found the book so interesting (compared to your average boring run - of the mill textbooks), that I can barely put it down, which is saying something for someone like myself with a 200nanosecond attention span... I like your sense of humor too, by the way!!

Keep up the good work! (2 thumbs up)

Cheers
Jacobus
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Joe :-)

I just finished chapter 4....boy it was hard!!! I think I will have to read chapter 4 a few more times to be sure it soaks in.

… You should write more tech books because you have knowledge, wit and a self- effacing style that is just perfect for writing about difficult technical stuff without making a newbie feel stupid...I have other tech books and many of them are just awful :-(

..Gwen..
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Most amazingly, it got here Monday! This a great book so far. I'm through chapter 3 or 4 and enjoy your style.
… I have a few other books about AVR's and C, but so far yours is the best of the bunch. …Thanks for doing this book!

Joe Bialy

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Smiley Micro's C Programming Book and Butterfly are indispensable learning tools for stepping into the world of microcontrollers using C programming.

Your book is a very easy read, and I’m very impressed. Have you written/thought of writing any other books on this subject? With some additions, I would even recommend the package as an entire course in college for learning how to use and program microcontrollers (a stronger, less expensive, and more flexible learning experience then learning microcontrollers on stamps).

David Bergunder
Easter Illinois University Student

---------------------------------------------------------------------

… I only wish I had known about your site before I bought it on Amazon. You really have done a great job with the book.

Will Naegle

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Joe,

I recently purchased your book,butterfly and kit combo. Nice Job on the book (some typos, but otherwise great for getting someone up and running quickly (and cheaply) to begin development and learning. Im up and running and programming my butterfly microcontroller and enjoying it tremendously…

Again, the book and kit were really great. It was a great start into microcontrollers.

sincerely,

Peter Jahns

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe,

I thought I'd let you know that the included serial connector was the deciding factor in choosing to buy from Smileymicros.com. I figured anyone who would add that bit of convenience must care about their customers. I'm glad to know the unit has shipped, and welcome the personal touch of your confirmation email…

Thanks,

Ken

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe;

I just got a chance to dig into your book and start fooling around with the butterfly. Your book is great and explains stuff in a very easy to understand way. I've been thouroughly enjoying it.

…All in all you've done a great job helping us newbies get started thanks alot!

~Zack

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe,

I'm enjoying the book very much so far. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for creating it!

Henno

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe,

Got the package today. You have a real winner here. The book is an excellent read and what a great way of introducing the microcontroller concepts. I bought one set for my summer intern engineering students and one for myself. The Butterflies will make great data recorders around the lab also.

THANKS,
Bill

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Joe,

I was so impressed with the first two chapters of your book that I had to purchase the ebook. I could not wait for regular mail delivery!

Best regards,

Robert Hizon

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe,

… I will encourage my friends in my robot club to make the purchase as I have. We are currently building bots for a mini sumo competition and most of us are using Atmel micros and winavr. Your book is exactly what I needed and half the price of similar books that I feel would not be as beneficial.

Thanks again,

Doyle Waid Hundley