Differences between the product

Edited Thread!
Hello!

I m a very newbie to embedded systems, but for a school project I want to design an embedded internet device.

As I am a learning-by-doing person, I would like to get microcontroller and equipment first before I get stucked at dry theoritical stuffs.
I consider to use a RabbitProduct, therefore I have some questions:
[ul]
[li]What is the difference between the RabbitCoreModules and the Single-Board-Computers; per definition, a microcontroller itself is already a system-on-chip, so what is the advantage of the Single-Board-Computers?
[/li][li]If I buy the products without the development kit, does that mean that I am totally unable to connect the controller to the PC for programming it or supplying power because of the missing prototype or demonstration boards?
[/li][li]If I want to use a LCD display, am I restricted to those supplied by Rabbit?
[/li][li]If I want to send the retrieved datas to a LCD display, do I need an extra CPU or controller?
[/li][/ul]

cheers, J!M!

[QUOTE=J!M!;2625]Edited Thread!
Hello![/quote]
Hello J!M!

[QUOTE=J!M!;2625]I m a very newbie to embedded systems, but for a school project I want to design an embedded internet device.

As I am a learning-by-doing person, I would like to get microcontroller and equipment first before I get stucked at dry theoritical stuffs.
I consider to use a RabbitProduct, therefore I have some questions:
[ul]
[li]What is the difference between the RabbitCoreModules and the Single-Board-Computers;per definition, a microcontroller itself is already a system-on-chip, so what is the advantage of the Single-Board-Computers?[/quote]
[/li]The RabbitCore modules only include the minimum : the main chip + external flash program memory and sometimes a few other things. But unlike single board computers and evaluation boards there are no power supply and I/O interface (a main voltage regulator, output drivers, RS232 voltage level translators…) and sometimes no programming connector ; you have to design all of that by yourself (and try to make it work).

[/li]Yes if you buy only a core module.
The evaluation boards contain at least what is needed to power the board and to connect it to the PC for programming. Depending on their type, they can also provide either built-in interfaces to various I/O peripherals (LEDs, buttons, motor power interface, LCD module, RS232…) at an extra cost, or simply bare I/Os. It’s up to you to choose the solution that better fulfills your needs.

[QUOTE=J!M!;2625][li]If I want to use a LCD display, am I restricted to those supplied by Rabbit?
[/li][li]If I want to send the retrieved datas to a LCD display, do I need an extra CPU or controller?[/quote]
[/li]Using Rabbit’s LCD module (it may not be an HD44780-compatible model) is not mandatory. It may only be a bit easier because Dynamic C already provides a software driver for it.
But you can connect any other LCD module to available I/O pins and write your own driver to make it work. No need of another microcontroller.

[QUOTE=J!M!;2625][/ul]

cheers, J!M![/quote]

Hello Jim, it’s good that you wish to to design an embedded internet device. i would suggest you to PM your questions to Admin of the forum for accurate answers