I got my kit a few days ago. I was pleased with the contents. I found the Getting Started (Advance Peek) book very handy. I just purchased the advanced copy from O'Reilly that has more chapters completed - at a 40% discount - thank you for that. The kit of parts are very complete. My only negative is that the case will not fit when the flat cable is installed - the slot for the cable is too high.
I found setting up the Rasberry Pi quite easy using all the vast docs on the web. I set it up ssh and use the Windows version of PuTTY for my command line work. I also installed TightVNC and use VNC on Windows and my iPhone for Xwindows access. PuTTY and VNC screens are very readable. For network access, I use a D-Link Wifi dongle.
Using the parts kit and following the Getting Started Guide, chapter 7, I was successful in lighting an LED connected to GPIO pin 25. This is the hardware equivalent of "Hello world!".
With exception of the case, I am very happy with the starter kit.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Pleased overall
November 7, 2012
Reviewer:
Russ
from Encinitas, CA United States
Unlike the previous reviewer, I am pretty well pleased with this kit so far. I got everything I expected, including a 4GB Kingston SD card.
There is no mint tin... so what? Go buy some Altoids, dude! And you have access to the promised chapters of the book, what did you expect?
My disappointment is limited to the acrylic case for the RasPi... There were no instructions on how to assemble it, and I managed to break it trying to get it to snap together. I'll have to buy another case for it, I guess.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Extremely disappointed.
November 7, 2012
Reviewer:
Michael Klein
from Saskatoon, SK Canada
I'm extremely disappointed.
The picture you use on your website for your promotions it makes reference to including an 'Advance Excerpt from Getting Started with Raspberry Pi included!'. However, the package I received simply contained a download code for chapters of a book that is yet to be published. This is false advertising at worst, and very misleading at best.
Second the photo of the product promotion makes the provided breadboard look much bigger than it is at actual scale. Much to my surprise I was disappointed to see a teensy breadboard, when expecting a reasonable size board. It's even referenced as 'deluxe full sized breadboard' which I am sorry to say it is not.
Third, the offer says the kit comes with a Mintronics survival pack. And, although I received the components I did not receive the mint can packaging.
Hardware "Hello world" 
Pleased overall 
Extremely disappointed. 
