FOR YOUNG USERS This product will immediately engage young users in building and programming the layouts that come with the kit. This alone makes it worth twice the cost. The programming environment is easy, yet the possibilities it offers will draw your kids into thinking and problem-solving. Learning and having fun at the same time: What a great idea!

FOR ADULTS Lego robots are used in graduate courses at MIT and Indiana University, among other schools. The programming environment is robust enough that it can support exercises in artificial intelligence. Check the NET: there are people out there posting advanced code for the Lego OS, writing new operating systems for the Mindstorms platform, and posting instructions for their own robotic creations. It is fun and educational for adults, too!

PURCHASING RECOMMENDATION The Robotics Invention System is the best entry point to Mindstorms, in my opinion. The programming options are much greater because of the ability to program on a PC with this kit. The lower-priced Mindstorms kits, such as the Robotics Discovery set do not allow programming from the PC. The programs are limited to what is included in the on-board processing module. That means the Robotics Discovery robots cannot do nearly as much as you can program the Robotics Invention System robots to do.

Best think ever (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I have this toy for more then a yeat and it still is fun,i keep making stuff i even made a robotic hand, this is the best thing ever well what are you wating for buy it!!!

Great Product, but IR Tower has problems w/certain computer (Rating: 5.00)
Review : Great Product - but like another reviewer, I had the same issues with the IR Tower and XP. Non of the Lego Support Documents were of much use, but using an older PC with Windows 98 did the trick.

Beware of software incompatibilty (Rating: 5.00)
Review : Unless you have Windows 98 or Windows ME, it may not work (who knows -- you may get lucky). I refuse to use either of these operating systems, which I consider wretched. The Mindstorm official FAQ says it was tested only on those 2 operating systems. For those who can get it to work, apparently it's a great product.

Learning disguised as fun?! (Rating: 5.00)
Review : I am simply amazed at the versatility of this "toy." Out of the package I would have loved this as a kid since it doesn't require a degree to get started. Yet, a high school diploma and college degree since the last time I played with Legos, I can download advanced programming environments and build my own robot sensors for nerdy adult fun! Just don't think you can get away with only this kit. You will soon want -er- need the expansion kits for extra parts. This is not a cheap Lego kit but if you've checked out your local toy store you'll realize they actaully never have been. This set is well worth the cost for Lego maniacs of all ages.