Reddit mentions of Vilros Arduino Uno Ultimate Starter Kit + LCD Module - Includes 72 Page Instruction Book

Hey, I was a complete noob in electronics and a beginner just a few months ago, so I think I can help:

Firstly, who was unable to recommend a starter kit? I was lost when I wanted to start, and there was really no way for me to go about it except to buy the starter kit. Many people say that starter kits are not cool because "you can just buy all the components separate and according to your project, and will come out to be much cheaper." My problem with this advice was: I have no idea what a resistor or Ohm is. I have no idea what a capicitor, and I have never even touched electrical wire before; how am I supposed to find all the components by myself? there is ton of different components online! SO: I bought a starter kit from amazon

(EDIT: as pointed below, it is not hard to google all that stuff, and learn what you need, but I was simply lazy :end Edit)

I don't know if you already have an arduino board, but if you do not, I highly recommend this kit, with the LCD display. It also comes with a booklet and the tutorials are A-M-Azing (I learned a lot from them).

Arduino's are capable of MANY different things: and I am still discovering new things that it can do to this day. I see projects on this subreddit and learn from them, and previously never had known that That project could have been done. Some pretty unique stuff.

Personally: I did the tutorials from the booklet, and then I started to build on the tutorials, and started to combine multiple tutorial objectives together. For example: A tutorial on a push button turning on and off a light. Another tutorial on using the Speaker and making music. I took those two and programmed: whenever the push button was pressed, a light would turn on, and music will start playing. another push, and music off. This is just one example, and you can combine many different tutorials and make something unique and really cool (Be Aware: you WILL impress your friends and they will be jealous :))

In addition, I am very interested in Bitcoin prices: so I decided to make a bitcoin price display that updates the price automatically from an API. This requires a wifi-breakout board or shield, but basically, I am trying to learn how to do Requests and try to get the bitcoin price.

Projects like these are really cool and interesting to me. Will I keep this bitcoin display on my table for ever? probably not, but it is really cool to accomplish it and have it made. If I really do want it on my desk, I could make a nice display for it, and waalaa! My very own personal Bitcoin price display!

This is my two cents. I am still a noob, but I have learned a lot this summer. Maybe more expert people can give their opinions on the topic, but I felt that I could relate because I felt the same exact way just three months ago

Sure.

Here's one, and here's another.

The instructions you can find online for free. The internet is packed full of Arduino tutorials, Arduino projects, and so on.

To be honest, if you want cheaper stuff, it's best to buy separately from Tayda, eBay, etc. But as a beginner it is nice to have everything in a single kit.

When first starting out, go with a kit that includes a manual on how to use all the parts included. I went with Arduino Ultimate Starter Kit from amazon. However, the kit you linked does have a lot of very cool components that the one above does not.

However, I really appreciated the manual of the Ultimate starter kit, because I had ZERO electronics or programming knowledge.
Interestingly, the Vilros manual looks very similar to the Sparkfun one. Check out a review of Arduino starter kits HERE. It shows off the manuals and reviews the components.

That said, if you are already have a bit of background in this area, and you don't mind some google research to get things working, then go with the one that has the most diversity of components, although try to stick with an Arduino Uno (or Uno clone) while you are learning.

GL!

An arduino starter kit is a great introduction into microcontrollers. I got one for my brother who is just starting university and he loved it. Here's a link to a pretty decent one

Starter Kit

I bought this kit from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HI0RYJK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

This is a little Arduino kit that I just bought. It has a book (let), but so far it's been quite fun:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HI0RYJK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If he really enjoys tinkering and making things, consider looking into either Arduino ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HI0RYJK?cache=a7de99f3443d14ad7f4c88825a1e65af&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412170163&sr=8-3#ref=mp_s_a_1_3 ) or Raspberry Pi kits.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HI0RYJK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AHALS71WJO58T

I'd reccomend getting her an arduino starter kit. Something like this

which starter kit did you get? I am currently deciding which one i am going to buy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HI0RYJK/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

There is this one, but I am unsure if I should pick the LCD / Ethernet option. Would the LCD screen / Ethernet shield even be useful for a beginner like me?

Or should I just get the Official kit by Adruino:

http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

They honestly both seem about the same other than the 20$ price different between the official one and the vilros one.