I personally don't think it's worth it... The PPDB doesn't have NES, but it does have a very nice breadboarding area with access to all the I/O pins and built-in apps. It's basically a propeller demo board with a few more goodies and a LOT more prototyping space.....

I wouldn't want to do serious Propeller development without it. I know I'm in the minority, but audio and video output don't interest me. For the kinds of serious project development that most will do the PPDB is the best choice, bar none.

It depends on how you develop. It's hard to quantify the product - it seems excellent for beginners, and it seems great for advanced users who are working with several IC's, but I think the majority of designers are really just trying to make a video display, or read a thermometer, or control a few servos. So - if your use case is typical, there might be better options.

I couldn't do anything without my PPDB. It's one of my most valuable tools, and I'd hate to be without it. It's certainly not perfect (limited number of 5v and 3.3v connections mainly), but it has everything that I need. I don't mind connecting things by jumpers: it allows me to be more flexible than a soldered connection. I use my PPDB for the initial breadboarding of all my projects, even though I have a demo board and protoboard. I don't think I'd have as much fun as I do without it.

I think you miss the point of the "Pro" development board. It is meant as a single source solution for prototyping a wide variety of solutions, but not necessarily meant as the final prototype for anything. It's a way to get started on development and programming without having to collect parts, do soldering, etc. You can also do "proof of concept".

The time saved chasing collecting parts and chasing down things that won't work is what this board is all about. It's not targeted toward the casual developer. It's targeted toward the "professional" or other user whose time has value, and at 170 USD, this is a bargain.

For example: I'm working on a control system for a water treatment facility. With just the board, and some jumpers, I can lay out a circut that includes input switches to serve as manual and/or remote signals, use the LEDs to "model" solenoid valves, etc., and write the program. I can see that the program will work, and verify that even if my fluid level sensor fails, my "fail safe" float switches will turn off the pump if the water level rises too high on the output, or too low on the input.

I often find myself needing something that's not on the board (like a microphone, SD card or a joystick controller) so it's rarely a one-stop-shop. Everyone's projects use different setups and different hardware. Some folks just make videogames, some people make robotics, others want to do video overlay.

A modular system lets them get the modules you need, so it's going to be cheaper. Modules mean they don't have to redo common circuits over and over (like video) and modules act as physically independent logical blocks, which can help in pinpointing problems. Soldered connections are also going to make prototypes more reliable than a breadboard.

For some folks, the PPDB is perfect and fits the way they develop. But my review contends that there are probably better solutions for the typical developer. If anyone wants to provide a 'counterpoint' review, just email it my way (nick@gadgetgangster.com) it my way and I'd be happy to put it up!

I'm a big fan of the PPDB. I won't develop hardware without it! Once I've tested my design on the PPDB, it can be moved to a Protoboard.

Well, I got a demo board at the propeller micro group in Ohio, and it has almost all of the same things as the PPDB! Of course, most of the I/O's are pre-assigned, but still... It's good if you don't want all the apps and extra space...

I've got a demo board. I use it to try new ideas without having to mess up a dedicated project, where my spinStudio boards tend to be built semi-permanantly into longer term projects. So I think there is a place for a purely benchtop experimental board.

I have only one complaint - the blue 16 segment displays should have had driver hardware built in. Adding enough hardware to run them takes up half the breadboard. I'm thinking of making a separate outboard just to run the LEDs, so the board has a decent general purpose alphanumerical display.