Intelligent brick with 32-bit microprocessor; more memory and flash
Icon-based drag-and-drop program building environment
6 AA batteries required which is not included
Sure, Mindstorms NXT is a toy, but it is an
important toy, like a piano or a chemistry set. It's one of those items that engages an imagination and possibly opens doors to new interests. Since our future is surely to be shared with robots--it's already started happening, just look at
--those robots will need, at least initially, humans to program and maintain them. Those people, years from now, will likely remember their experiences with Lego Mindstorms.