Documentation Ideas

Happy New Year.

Summary:

Please add an FAQ for the products.
-what are the issues that trip-up uses?
-what if you are using PICAXE or something else besides the Arduino or Stamp?

Please bullet the arguments

Detail:
The BlinkM/MaxM are clearly geared towards the Arduinos with good support.
Sparkfun is clear about this too. You also include code examples for other platforms, etc....

So, if a newbie is going to engage the unit with say a, PICAXE, then the newbie is on his own.

That said, please consider creating FAQ section in the documentation, some ideas:

*How to stop the default script from playing
*Items like the 20ms write times via I2C (Fe2o3Fish’s post was very helpful)
*A link to “gotcha’s” for programming?
*Put the arguments for all parameters in bullet form, not prose

The Startup Parameters address the 1st two issues above, but the instructions for changing the startup is deep in the manual...on page 22.

No doubt if I had bought the unit early in December, with an Arduino board, all would be fine.

ThingM is in business to make money and that’s good. The sequencer application is marvelous. I understand resources are limited.

Consider the advantages of promoting the products to a slightly wider audience. This is a “real world holiday application” that a guy can justify to his wife (for example) as opposed to simply flashing an LED.

Using the very popular Arduino is more than just $35. It’s a decision to invest time into a new platform.

BTW- WINEM looks interesting, LOVEM too,

Thanks for reading,

Terry

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