[#XDUINO] Arduino vs Netduino vs Gadgeteer (VI) conclusions, Pros and cons of Netduino

Series

Introduction. https://elbruno.com/2013/07/13/xduino-arduino-vs-netduino-vs-gadgeteer-i/
Example with Arduino. https://elbruno.com/2013/07/15/xduino-arduino-vs-netduino-vs-netgadgeeter-ii-usamos-el-arduino/
Starting with Netduino. https://elbruno.com/2013/07/16/xduino-arduino-vs-netduino-vs-netgadgeeter-iii-empezamos-con-netduino/
Example with Netduino. https://elbruno.com/2013/07/17/xduino-arduino-vs-netduino-vs-gadgeteer-iii-el-ejemplo-con-netduino/
Example with Gadgeteer. https://elbruno.com/2013/07/18/xduino-arduino-vs-netduino-vs-gadgeteer-v-ejemplo-con-gadgeteer/
Conclusions on Arduino, https://elbruno.com/2013/07/22/xduino-arduino-vs-netduino-vs-gadgeteer-vi-conclusiones-pros-y-contras-de-arduino/

Hello.

Yesterday was my review for Arduino, today I’ll go with Netduino …

NETDUINO

Pros

The Pros begin with a “Netduino is so cool”. It is a small device that allows you to make quick prototypes in C#. It may seem weird, but programming in C# is the 2nd best advantage. Even if we have all the advantages of a good programming language (Generics, Linq, etc) C# is in 2nd place. The 1st place go for the next one: Netduino is based on .net Micro Framework, and out of the box has tons of stuff which are very difficult to implement in Arduino: Timers, MultiThreading, events, etc. On the other hand, it is not much more expensive: an Arduino (€20) and the Netduino (€34,95), so prototype with Netduino is not very expensive.

Another point to comment that .net Micro Framework is Open Source, so everyone can see how it works, is available for everyone at CodePlex. And I don’t want to forget that with Netduino you have:

– Debugging

– An emulator integrated in Visual Studio

– A chip to 48 MHz (the 16 MHz of Arduino-vs), an ARM chip from 32 bits (vs the ATmega 8-bit), etc. Netduino is more powerful than Arduino .

Cons

The main drawback of Netduino is mounted on .net Micro Framework. And if at some point like to browse what is not included in the NETMF, as you create you own NETMF your own branch, or you wait for someone to do it for you. Another important point to have in mind is that the collection of sensors that exist for Netduino is smaller than the Netduino. And even if there are a couple of tutorials on how to implement a C# handler for NETMF of a sensor, from C++ code; the reality is that it is not so easy.

Another problem you have is the price (I’m not crazy wait for it …). I’m don’t know if there are cheap Netduino chips, anyways think always in €35 each one; on the other hand it is possible to prototyping with Arduino (€20) and then deploy it to AVR chips of less than €10.

Conclusion

Netduino is very good. If you do not want to move to the world of men and writing code in c++; netduino is an excellent choice. It is not very expensive, has all the advantages of the Microsoft languages and the best current IDE integrates very well: Visual Studio 2012. At this point, one I will punish with a “that’s payment” because using the Express versions that are free! I think Netduino is fine and even more if you want to make quick prototypes in a known IDE.

Tomorrow something about .net Gadgeteer…

Saludos @ Barcelona

El Bruno