BUG Labs vs Liquidware

I have been a big fan of Make: and did some searching on modal based electronics and came across BUG Labs. Plug the bits together hook it to your computer and do some light programming and your creation is alive.

BUG is a collection of easy-to-use electronic modules that snap together to build any gadget you can imagine. Each BUGmodule represents a specific gadget function (ex: a camera, a keyboard, a video output, etc.). You decide which functions to include and BUG takes care of the rest, letting you try out different combination quickly and easily. With BUG and the integrated programming environment/online community (BUGnet), anyone can build, program and share innovative devices and applications. We don’t define the final products – you do.

Unfortunately for me the price seems a bit steep for the modules, $79 for a 2mp camera? $99 for a GPS receiver? there prices seem to mimic something of the actual product. Granted you can just plug a Garmon GPS into a pint and shoot Camera, but there are alternatives. Base Station + GPS + Camera + Viewfinder = $549 for a low resolution digital camera with GPS. you can buy a GPS so i think until the modules and base station become a bit more reasonable you won’t see me using them.

Liquidware on the other hand seems to be a bit better bang for the buck, not to mention it runs on the Arduino controller, Liquidware bases there system on a plug in component system as well but for $249 you get many more practical units that can be multipurpose.

I also like how the modules are not all dolled up and concealed behind a plastic case. Liquidware also seems to have a better selection of modules but not Camera or GPS modules, that’s not to say some Googling won’t find what you need. In a matter of minutes i found a number of Shields to be used with the system including GPS, WIFI, and Servo Controllers.

I would love to get a hold of some components and see what i can make.