Here are a few key resources for the LEGO MindStorms Robotics Invention System, other languages being developed to talk to the RCX and info on using a Mac with the RIS.

Fred Martin's MindStorms FAQ MIT researcher and well-known LEGO robotics guru has put together a short FAQ about the RIS, how the RCX differs from MIT's Programmable Brick and using the RCX with other languages. Check out Fred's home page to see some of the other nifty things he's working on.

RCX Internals This is a great site for anyone looking to hack the RCX and the IR transmitter. The site has pics of the RCX and transmitter innards and information gleaned from reverse engineering the units.

Parts Inventory This page is a large jpeg image of all of the components found in the RIS kit.

Dave's LEGO Site Dave Baum is the creator of Not Quite C (NQC),a simple language with C-like syntax that can be used to program the LEGO RCX. The site has Mac, Windows and Linux versions of NQC available, a user's manual and several bot project descriptions that use NQC and the RIS.

RCX and PalmPilot This guy's working on various tools to enable RIS owners to communicate with the RCX using a PalmPilot.

The MindStorms Webring There are only about seven sites on it now, but just watch how fast this ring grows.

While there is currently no commercial version of the RIS, you can still use a Mac. RCX Code is (so far) PC-only, but another graphical programming language called RoboLab is available for both Mac and PC. To use with a Mac, you'll need the regular MindStorms RIS kit, the RoboLab software ($25), the User Guide ($25), and the Mac RCX cable ($15). While it's a drag that Mac user's have to pay $75 more, it sounds like RoboLab (which is actually National Instrument's LabView software) is a much better programming language anyway. LabView is a popular program among scientists and engineers, but is apparently easy enough that kids can use. All of the Mac parts can be ordered from Pitsco LEGO Dacta.