Best way to get started with programming other things than your computer? [closed]

Question

What is the best way to get started with programming things outside of your computer?

I don't mean mainstream things like cell phones with APIs.

Please assume working knowledge of C/C++

Answer 1

I vote for the Nintendo DS:

• Nice hardware : 2 CPUs, 2 screens, touchscreen, mic, speakers, wireless, 2D and 3D acceleration
• No OS to speak of
• Freedom to talk to the bare metal without restriction
• Well-documented
• Very active dev community
• Enthusiastic audience for anything cool you create
• Cheap (shockingly so if you go for 1st-gen units)

All-in-all it's really excellent fun to play with.

To get started:

1. Get a DS
2. Get a SLOT1 flash-cart (I've got a DS-X, but there are plenty of others)
3. Get devkitpro
4. Go here for help or advice

Answer 2

Brian, you might find the Arduino interesting. It is inexpensive and pretty popular. I started playing around with micro controller boards and such a few years back and that lead to an interest in robots. Kind of interesting, at least to me.

If one is interested in a .NET-flavored development environment, there is an analog to the arduino call netduino that is worth a look.