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Arduino lovers have a whole lotta hardware to choose from nowadays. From Arduino clones optimized for a variety of different users, to an arsenal of shield attachments specially designed for nearly every type of project. We've got a lot to cover here, so let's get started, first with the basics -
(Read on for the whole shebang)

Arduino Main Boards

Arduino Duemilanove($34.99)
The new standard Arduino main board. This latest model auto-switches its power source between USB and DC jack, whichever is available. "Duemilanove" means 2009 in Italian (the year of its release). Specs include:

• Microcontroller - ATmega168
• Operating Voltage - 5V
• Input Voltage - (recommended) 7-12V
• Input Voltage - (limits) 6-20V
• Digital I/O Pins - 14 (of which 6 provide PWM output)
• Analog Input Pins - 6
• DC Current per I/O Pin - 40 mA
• DC Current for 3.3V Pin - 50 mA
• Flash Memory - 16 KB (of which 2 KB used by bootloader)
• SRAM - 1 KB
• EEPROM - 512 bytes
• Clock Speed - 16 MHz

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Arduino Mega ($65)
The Arduino Mega is the latest microcontroller from the Arduino team. The Mega is built around the ATmega1280. It's perfect for anyone looking for more room for code or to be able to control a lot more LEDs, sensors, servos, or motors. It has 54 digital input/output pins (of which 14 can be used as PWM outputs), 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs. Another great feature is the Arduino Mega is compatible with most shields designed for the Arduino Duemilanove or Diecimila. Arduino is a tool for making computers that can sense and control more of the physical world than your desktop computer. It's an open source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board.

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Arduino Nano ($49.99)
So tiny you'll want to eat it! Arduino Nano is a surface-mount breadboard embedded version with integrated USB. It is small, complete, and breadboard friendly. It has everything that Diecimila has (electrically) with more analog input pins and onboard +5V AREF jumper. Physically, it is missing a power jack and power-select jumper. Since the Nano can automatically sense and switch to the higher potential source of power, there is no need for the power-select jumper. Nano's got the breadboard-ability of the Boarduino and the Mini+USB with smaller footprint than either, so users have more breadboard space.
Features:

• Automatic reset during program download
• Power OK blue LED on the bottom
• Green (TX), red (RX) and orange (L) LED
• +5V to AREF jumper
• Auto sensing/switching power input
• Small mini-B USB for programming and serial monitor
• ICSP header for direct program download
• Power OK blue LED on the bottom
• Standard 0.1" spacing DIP (breadboard friendly)
• Manual reset switch

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Arduino Mini Board ($36.99) & Arduino Mini USB Adapter ($19.99)
The Arduino Mini offers the same power and flexibility of the standard boards, but in a much smaller package. This makes it an ideal choice for projects where space is at a premium. The USB adapter (pictured above) is used to program the Mini from your computer and can be removed from a project once you're done writing and uploading software.

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