Lego Mindstorms: What went wrong?

[jeffmorris]

I think that I wasted my money on LEGO Mindstorms sets and LEGO building sets. Is it possible to combine the LEGO Technic parts with the VEX Robotics parts?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I cannot tell you how often this thread has appeared over the years. Virtually since the beginning of FLL someone comes up with a line about Lego dropping, cancelling support, modifying or selling off the Mindstorms product line. Untill I hear it from a Lego exec, I wouldn't believe it.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by jeffmorris

Is it possible to combine the LEGO Technic parts with the VEX Robotics parts?

I don't think so. The hole spacing is different, I think. I have toyed with both systems. (2 different Mindstorms sets and a bit with the family VEX set)

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by EricH

I don't think so. The hole spacing is different, I think. I have toyed with both systems. (2 different Mindstorms sets and a bit with the family VEX set)

are you kidding. everything is possible. thats why these are so fun. ive combined lego and knex, erector(was it?), and too many nonconventional parts to list. vaccuum cleaners, oh which i actually have a video of. one of the first models i made when i got the mindstorms kit. and 15 lbs barbells... makes for a nice trebuche(sp?). yea. i reccomend that as a project to anyone interested in learning more about making beefier lego projects. the bracing required to keep a model together with 15lbs of swinging weight was lets say.... intense. i learned so much from building that.. well. point is. everything is adaptable somehow.

[KarenH]

The article discussed the production cost of the RCX--supposedly less than $1.00. The RCX currently retails for $119 on the Lego website, but is "Not Available" (and wasn't several weeks ago, when I researched the possibility of an upgrade for the FLL team my son is mentoring). Since the Mindstorms RIS set itself costs $199, it's almost more cost effective to just buy another RIS set.

So, the most important part of the set is both ridiculously expensive and officially irreplaceable. Such a practice won't endear Lego to American consumers who are interested in getting a good value.

I also found the concept of "Lego literacy" interesting. I used to play with Legos when I was a kid, but I think I would be unable to do anything with the newer, fancier, and over-specialized kits sold these days. (I really don't want transparent pink bat wings on my little brick boat, thank you!) But I think the Mindstorms kit offers excellent mentoring possibilities between the older Lego-literate maniacs and the interested but Lego-illiterate younger kids.

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by KarenH

So, the most important part of the set is both ridiculously expensive and officially irreplaceable. Such a practice won't endear Lego to American consumers who are interested in getting a good value.

nah. look at the ipod. look at um. EVERYTHING

[Ryan M.]

Originally Posted by greencactus3

nah. look at the ipod. look at um. EVERYTHING

But the difference between and iPod and Mindstorms is that there are other MP3 players, where as Mindstorm's competition is... nothing.

[JoeXIII'007]

Originally Posted by Ryan M.

But the difference between and iPod and Mindstorms is that there are other MP3 players, where as Mindstorm's competition is... nothing.

Really??? I thought Cyber K'NEX was a competitor of sorts.

[Ryan M.]

Originally Posted by JoeXIII'007

Really??? I thought Cyber K'NEX was a competitor of sorts.

Good point, although the fact that I didn't think of it indicates it may not a be a really strong competitor. (Or that I just didn't. Whichever.)

I do feel that part of Mindstorm's "problem" is that there is at least an appearance of little competition. Because people aren't aware of the (somewhat limited) alternatives, they don't buy them, so LEGO has little motivation for improvement.

[JoeXIII'007]

Thought I would put one more thing down on this lack of competition argument. Cyber K'NEX had to be Mindstorms's biggest enemy. It had a lot more advertising than I saw Mindstorms having, and what really damaged LEGO was the price difference: $200 for a Mindstorms kit vs. about $120 for the Ultra (complete) Cyber K'nex set. There were other, cheaper, and more limited sets in the K'Nex line as well. Also, the CK set allowed for real time user control (though bad, it still was pretty darn cool) in the box. with Mindstorms, you have to buy the remote control separately.

So though limitations were a bit more abundant on the KNEX side, I think the $80 price difference really offsets that. I have one of those sets, and I can do a lot of fun things with it, some I cannot do with Lego.

-Joe

[fb39ca4]

Originally Posted by JoeXIII'007

Really??? I thought Cyber K'NEX was a competitor of sorts.

Hardly. I had a Cyber K'nex set and it is about as functional as the Mindstorms Droid Developer Kit - one motor, a few pre-programmed behaviors, and some cheesy sound effects.

[Schnabel]

Wow, when this tread was created I was still in Lego League. Talk about back from the dead!

[Calvin Hartley]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

Wow, when this tread was created I was still in Lego League. Talk about back from the dead!

I had thoughts along those lines too, Eric! On a similar note, I see you're with from Flint, (and 314) would you happen to have ever been around at the FLL State Championship events there in Flint? If so, would you happen to remember LEGOs In Paradise?

[Schnabel]

Originally Posted by Calvin Hartley

...would you happen to have ever been around at the FLL State Championship events there in Flint? If so, would you happen to remember LEGOs In Paradise?

Sorry no, I'm originally from Indiana and never made it up to Michigan for competition.

[Calvin Hartley]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

Sorry no, I'm originally from Indiana and never made it up to Michigan for competition.

Ahh, that's alright. Just curious.