About a month and a half ago, I created a project called the Pocket Mini Computer and wrote an Instructable on how to build it. This Instructable takes the entire project a step further by helping you Get started with your Pocket Mini Computer. Haven't built one yet? I've included both a link to kit which has everything you need, and complete schematics on the last page for those who want to "Roll their own".

You can think of this as the "Users Guide" to the Pocket Mini Computer.

(It's alternate title might be: Why would I possibly build on of these?!)

The Pocket Mini Computer Instructable Table of Contents:

Features and Specifications of the hardware and BASIC

Getting started with BASIC

Adding microSD support

Adding and using DOS

Adding and using the full-screen editor

Running external non-basic binaries

Adding and using extended memory (SRAM)

Using the Wii Controller & Expermenter's ports

Adding an IR (Infrared) reciever

Support and Links

Schematics (in the back of the guide, like the old days.)

Update! August 2014



The PMC has been completely updated with a new product. The Propeller Experimenter's Board makes the PMC a single board kit, easier to build with new features. This new PEB/PMC 2014 is completely compatible with the original PMC 2013 and can be obtained from Propellerpowered's Tindie Store.

Update! September 2014

We've just released version 4 of the PMC project with a board called the Micromite Companion. By adding a Micromite to the PEB or obtaining our dedicated Micromite Companion Kit, you can do more with your projects than ever before. Completely compatible with our original PMC/PEB projects, the MMC now offers a very robust MMBASIC with 54K of free memory at boot-up.

Why on earth would I want to program in BASIC? This is a nostalgia toy right?

I won't deny it! The Pocket Mini Computer started out as a simple nostalgia item. It's friendly big text and bright colors are a fun way to time travel back to a time when computing was simple. For older users, it's a blast to past! For younger users it's an opportunity to experience computing as it was. (Without playing with creaky old hardware and floppy disks)

The Pocket Mini Computer has had several new features added recently which give it the power to do things which may not have been possible in COLOR BASIC due to memory restrictions. In fact, it's currently heading in a direction which will make it much like a BASIC STAMP or PICAXE, only you don't need to program it from another PC. It's a way to get into microcontrollers without having to become a programming geek. (Be warned, this stuff is addictive and soon you'll want to do more. This project will do it!)

Grab a ready-to-go Kit, or build your own from scratch!

If you have a favorite Propeller board already, and are comfortable with creating your own version of the Pocket Mini Computer, I've included both complete schematics and I/O configuration details on the last page of this Instructable. Complete source code is also available for download. (See step three) This is a fun project if you are building the Pocket Mini Computer or "Rolling your own" from the schematics, read on!