It'd be pretty neat if they used the
Java Stamp Modules from Parallax in the controllers. It would throw some spice into the mix for the programmers. Everyone would have to learn Java...
The negative side of the Javalin Stamp is increased complexity. I was reading through the manual and it said that serial input in the new modual is seamless. By this, it means that data is input into a buffer in memory, and it is up to you to check for the data. When the data comes, it comes, no matter what.
The positive side is that the data is constantly updated without having to wait for the Stamp to finish execution. This is very useful, because you are getting the latest data when you are doing your in-program calculations.
Another positive side of the Javalin Stamp is SRAM memory. SRAM is much, much faster than EEPROM, resulting in a faster execution time. Also, the memory is "flat". Your variable space and code space is the same. This means MORE VARIABLE SPACE!
This is the largest improvement over the BASIC Stamp. The previous stamp transferred data from the memory in a serial nature, and it used EEPROM, both of these factors being considerably slow. Although the stamp ran off a 20Mhz PIC microcontroller, it continually had to wait for the EEPROM to send it the next instruction. The new SRAM is connected in a parallel nature, resulting in much faster memory transfers.
The last big improvement is... of course... decimals! They are no use for output... but in your calculations they can be a big help.
Personally, I think the transition to the Java Stamp would be a good one. The biggest advantage is that the students are learning a programming language that they will actually use, not some proprietary BASIC mock-up.