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Observing my 7yo son's open-ended play with modern-era LEGOs, I must disagree with Minsky. Perhaps the LEGO sets have changed since this this comment was made.

by kbouck 10y ago

Observing my 7yo son's open-ended play with modern-era LEGOs, I must disagree with Minsky. Perhaps the LEGO sets have changed since this this comment was made. I find the current LEGO Technic pieces to be the perfect tool for open-ended exploration, and for building of simple machines. While the sets do come with prescriptive instructions to build something specific out of that set - you aren't forced to follow them. Those instructions are more of a demo of what you can do with the pieces. The pieces are almost all generic, and closely model their real-world mechanical equivalents -- beams, pins, gears, axels, motors, linear actuators, switches, battery power supplies. There a great book exploring all the technic fundamentals: "Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide" [1]. It covers concepts like leverage, torque, gears, gear ratios, differentials, suspensions, transmissions, etc. Throw in the fact that technic electronic components (motors, lights, sensors) can be driven by code (eg. scratch on a rapsberry pi), and I can't imagine a better learning toy which is initially so approachable, and yet has such a high ceiling for advanced learning. If you want to see what incredible creations are possible in the hands of the masters, check out "Incredible LEGO Technic" [2]. [1] https://www.nostarch.com/technicbuilder2 https://www.nostarch.com/technicbuilder2 [2] https://www.nostarch.com/incredibletechnic https://www.nostarch.com/incredibletechnic

thro1237 10y ago
Looks like a nice book. I have zero exposure to legos. Which lego kit should I buy to go along with the book? An amazon link would be very helpful. Thanks.
- kbouck 10y ago
  If you're willing to go all-in, get a big technic set which has the most "power functions" components (motors, remotes, battery box). These are the parts that are harder to come-by unless you order them individually (which is more expensive). When I looked >= 1-2 years ago, the best single set for spare parts I found was the Volvo L350F wheel loader aka. "42030" [1] (each lego set is uniquely identified by a numeric id). It had the most power functions parts I could find, and probably gives you all the beams, wheels, gears, and other parts you need. You can supplement your collection with specific parts from places like BrickLink [2] or even the lego.com store [3]. NOTE: Be warned that LEGO is changing their Power Functions plug shape. Most current sets are still on Power Functions 1.0, and new sets will eventually become 2.0 [1] https://www.amazon.com/technic-Volvo-L350F-wheel-loader/dp/B00H4908ZM https://www.amazon.com/technic-Volvo-L350F-wheel-loader/dp/B... [2] https://www.bricklink.com/ https://www.bricklink.com/ [3] https://shop.lego.com/ https://shop.lego.com/
  - DCoder 10y ago
    Out of curiosity, what makes 42030 better than MB Arocs (42043) or Mobile Crane II (42009)? I was just looking for a gift for myself a week ago, and 42043 looks great.
    - kbouck 10y ago
      For my purposes I wanted the most parts for the money. Specifically I wanted the power functions parts, since the other parts like beams and wheels will accumulate from every other set. The 42030 had the most power functions parts included. You can see which PF parts are included on the front of the box. 42043: - contains the pneumatic pump & tubes which are less common pieces - this is the only other large technic set I've bought (and I got it mainly for the pneumatic parts) 42009: - Lots of beam parts, but not many power functions parts included.
BatFastard 10y ago
Technics are awesome, as a 60 year old engineer I hated to part with the extensive set I had acquired while leading a Lego League team, but I passed it on to my nephew. However, I see many kids building one model, and then sitting it on a shelf as something they have made. What a waste of Legos...
- abraae 10y ago
  By contrast I see my 4 year old itching to tear apart any complete Lego model and tear it down to make...planes. Always planes. And rockets.
diggan 10y ago
So let's say I want to use those two books to get started with LEGO Technic (I have long LEGO experience, not so much with Technic), how I find the sets to have use of the books? Should I buy the parts by themselves, after buying the books? Can I find a aggregated set somewhere, where the most common pieces are included? Basically, how I can find start-sets of LEGO Technic?
- kbouck 10y ago
  See my reply to a sibling comment asking the same question. In addition to those comments, another option is the Lego WeDo construction set (9580) [1]. Not as many technic parts, but it contains a couple of sensors (tilt/distance), and the USB hub for interfacing with a computer. You could also just buy a small technic set or two from the toy store (they are all clearly labeled "technic" on the box), but after buying a couple of these, you'll wish you had just bought a single large set for the value for parts. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Lego-Education-Wedo-Construction-9580/dp/B00NBHXW9U https://www.amazon.com/Lego-Education-Wedo-Construction-9580... NOTE: Same caveat that this set uses the power functions 1.0 plug design, and version 2.0 is upcoming and seems incompatible. Maybe they'll make adapters.
agumonkey 10y ago
The generic was part of the appeal. It seems to have peaked in the 90s, now LEGO is milking dedicated shapes. Expected, that's how "progress" evolve. Even my father complains.
- mcphage 10y ago
  > now LEGO is milking dedicated shapes. Expected, that's how "progress" evolve. Even my father complains I think most of the people who make these complaints simply haven't shopped for Lego in a while and so are operating on a lot of feeling but not much data. Stroll down the Lego aisle(s) at Target, you'll see plenty of free-form sets and traditional pieces like these entire product lines: https://www.lego.com/en-us/classic?icmp=COUSFRClassic https://www.lego.com/en-us/classic?icmp=COUSFRClassic and https://www.lego.com/en-us/creator?icmp=COUSFRCreator https://www.lego.com/en-us/creator?icmp=COUSFRCreator
  - agumonkey 10y ago
    It's indeed a reflex based on the new sets I saw since a few years (lots of franchise). I still feel something missing from how sets were designed in the 80s-00s era. Something of that period I miss, half nostalgia, but not only. A balance between surface and simplicity. Kinda like pixel art.
    - timcederman 10y ago
      The sets I remember having in the 80s and 90s had lots of custom pieces. My son's Lego seems to have less custom pieces than I remember having when I was growing up. It is amazing watching what he creates after he gets bored of the original creation.
    - mcphage 10y ago
      > A balance between surface and simplicity. Kinda like pixel art. Check out the architecture series: https://www.lego.com/en-us/architecture https://www.lego.com/en-us/architecture They use mostly basic shapes, and not many colors, but I think have found a nice balance between representation & abstraction for the buildings they model. Another thing going on is, I think their model designers have gotten a lot more skilled at using pieces in novel ways in their models. They've gotten better at representing details, so more details show up.
mcphage 10y ago
It's a shame this article didn't come out a few weeks ago, when NoStarch Press had a ton of their Lego books available in a Humble Book Bundle
- billpollock 10y ago
  We've got a 50% off deal running now on all of our print books. And that includes a lot of LEGO books. Coupon code is a the top of the main page.
  - mcphage 10y ago
    The page banner says all books, does it include PDFs as well?
    - andrewl 10y ago
      I'm not sure if the coupon is good for just ebooks, but you do get ebook versions with the print. I just bought the print Land of Lisp at half price, and got a link to download PDF, Mobi, and ePub versions. I haven't read it yet, obviously, but Paul Graham's review is quoted on the site: "Turns out the border between genius and insanity is a pretty cheery place."
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

by kbouck 10y ago

thro1237 10y ago

Looks like a nice book. I have zero exposure to legos. Which lego kit should I buy to go along with the book? An amazon link would be very helpful. Thanks.

kbouck 10y ago
If you're willing to go all-in, get a big technic set which has the most "power functions" components (motors, remotes, battery box). These are the parts that are harder to come-by unless you order them individually (which is more expensive). When I looked >= 1-2 years ago, the best single set for spare parts I found was the Volvo L350F wheel loader aka. "42030" [1] (each lego set is uniquely identified by a numeric id). It had the most power functions parts I could find, and probably gives you all the beams, wheels, gears, and other parts you need. You can supplement your collection with specific parts from places like BrickLink [2] or even the lego.com store [3]. NOTE: Be warned that LEGO is changing their Power Functions plug shape. Most current sets are still on Power Functions 1.0, and new sets will eventually become 2.0 [1] https://www.amazon.com/technic-Volvo-L350F-wheel-loader/dp/B00H4908ZM https://www.amazon.com/technic-Volvo-L350F-wheel-loader/dp/B... [2] https://www.bricklink.com/ https://www.bricklink.com/ [3] https://shop.lego.com/ https://shop.lego.com/
- DCoder 10y ago
  Out of curiosity, what makes 42030 better than MB Arocs (42043) or Mobile Crane II (42009)? I was just looking for a gift for myself a week ago, and 42043 looks great.
  - kbouck 10y ago
    For my purposes I wanted the most parts for the money. Specifically I wanted the power functions parts, since the other parts like beams and wheels will accumulate from every other set. The 42030 had the most power functions parts included. You can see which PF parts are included on the front of the box. 42043: - contains the pneumatic pump & tubes which are less common pieces - this is the only other large technic set I've bought (and I got it mainly for the pneumatic parts) 42009: - Lots of beam parts, but not many power functions parts included.

BatFastard 10y ago

Technics are awesome, as a 60 year old engineer I hated to part with the extensive set I had acquired while leading a Lego League team, but I passed it on to my nephew. However, I see many kids building one model, and then sitting it on a shelf as something they have made. What a waste of Legos...

abraae 10y ago
By contrast I see my 4 year old itching to tear apart any complete Lego model and tear it down to make...planes. Always planes. And rockets.

diggan 10y ago

So let's say I want to use those two books to get started with LEGO Technic (I have long LEGO experience, not so much with Technic), how I find the sets to have use of the books? Should I buy the parts by themselves, after buying the books? Can I find a aggregated set somewhere, where the most common pieces are included? Basically, how I can find start-sets of LEGO Technic?

kbouck 10y ago
See my reply to a sibling comment asking the same question. In addition to those comments, another option is the Lego WeDo construction set (9580) [1]. Not as many technic parts, but it contains a couple of sensors (tilt/distance), and the USB hub for interfacing with a computer. You could also just buy a small technic set or two from the toy store (they are all clearly labeled "technic" on the box), but after buying a couple of these, you'll wish you had just bought a single large set for the value for parts. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Lego-Education-Wedo-Construction-9580/dp/B00NBHXW9U https://www.amazon.com/Lego-Education-Wedo-Construction-9580... NOTE: Same caveat that this set uses the power functions 1.0 plug design, and version 2.0 is upcoming and seems incompatible. Maybe they'll make adapters.

agumonkey 10y ago

The generic was part of the appeal. It seems to have peaked in the 90s, now LEGO is milking dedicated shapes. Expected, that's how "progress" evolve. Even my father complains.

mcphage 10y ago
> now LEGO is milking dedicated shapes. Expected, that's how "progress" evolve. Even my father complains I think most of the people who make these complaints simply haven't shopped for Lego in a while and so are operating on a lot of feeling but not much data. Stroll down the Lego aisle(s) at Target, you'll see plenty of free-form sets and traditional pieces like these entire product lines: https://www.lego.com/en-us/classic?icmp=COUSFRClassic https://www.lego.com/en-us/classic?icmp=COUSFRClassic and https://www.lego.com/en-us/creator?icmp=COUSFRCreator https://www.lego.com/en-us/creator?icmp=COUSFRCreator
- agumonkey 10y ago
  It's indeed a reflex based on the new sets I saw since a few years (lots of franchise). I still feel something missing from how sets were designed in the 80s-00s era. Something of that period I miss, half nostalgia, but not only. A balance between surface and simplicity. Kinda like pixel art.
  - timcederman 10y ago
    The sets I remember having in the 80s and 90s had lots of custom pieces. My son's Lego seems to have less custom pieces than I remember having when I was growing up. It is amazing watching what he creates after he gets bored of the original creation.
  - mcphage 10y ago
    > A balance between surface and simplicity. Kinda like pixel art. Check out the architecture series: https://www.lego.com/en-us/architecture https://www.lego.com/en-us/architecture They use mostly basic shapes, and not many colors, but I think have found a nice balance between representation & abstraction for the buildings they model. Another thing going on is, I think their model designers have gotten a lot more skilled at using pieces in novel ways in their models. They've gotten better at representing details, so more details show up.

mcphage 10y ago

It's a shame this article didn't come out a few weeks ago, when NoStarch Press had a ton of their Lego books available in a Humble Book Bundle

billpollock 10y ago
We've got a 50% off deal running now on all of our print books. And that includes a lot of LEGO books. Coupon code is a the top of the main page.
- mcphage 10y ago
  The page banner says all books, does it include PDFs as well?
  - andrewl 10y ago
    I'm not sure if the coupon is good for just ebooks, but you do get ebook versions with the print. I just bought the print Land of Lisp at half price, and got a link to download PDF, Mobi, and ePub versions. I haven't read it yet, obviously, but Paul Graham's review is quoted on the site: "Turns out the border between genius and insanity is a pretty cheery place."

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]