New to Phidgets - trying to grok it

[rgelb]

Hello, I am trying to understand the paradigm.

Is Phidgets like Arduino or .NET Micro Framework boards, where you write code and download it to the device and it runs independently of anything else? Or is it a device that you control from a PC or some other entity?

Thanks.

[frodegill]

Phidgets are sensors/devices you connect by USB to a PC. (The Phidget SBCs are basically a PC and Phidget IO board combined). This means you will have the USB latency and the need for a computer and a complete OS (where an Arduino can give you PWM over the digital pins and a real-time system running at very few volts on minimal systems). However, Phidgets are super-easy to use and the perfect thing if you have soldering iron anxiety.