[Neal Probert]

I'll agree with you there with the Java Stamp (actually the Javelin) over the Basic Stamp. I'd like to see something better meself.

Most embedded systems are done in C, then C++ with more and more Java appearing. With the availability of Java compilers, that is much more feasible nowadays.

It's also much easier to do cross platform development in Java than in any other language. Coming up with an emulator or simulator should be much easier as well. The Java classes for robot I/O would be pretty easy to rewrite for those purposes.

The multi-tasking capability is definitely the next step in robot programming. Almost a necessity in really good robot programming.

The Basic Stamp is nothing more than a PIC with a PBASIC interpreter. Thus, the PIC could be programmed in C with a custom application as well, such as robot control.

Of course, ideally, I'd like to see an embedded Linux in there to do some really cool stuff. I could do anything in C, C++, Java or whatever.