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I tried rather hard to get the new Mindstorms NXT 2.0 software to install on the iMac, but to no avail. Though the installer ran through without any hint of trouble, and even after following the suggestion to install Rosetta, no NXT application icon ever appeared in the Applications folder. I tried a number of times, had to shut down Firefox each time due to an update required to Adobe Flash and even had to sit through a number of system restarts. Nothing much helped. Removing the existing installation and then re-installing likewise had no effect. The only thing I could think of was that the trouble with the installation was somehow related to Snow Leopard. A good guess: a brief Google and I found a solution.

It’s not exactly complicated, but is something I would never have considered. The workaround involves the opening of an installer package and the removal of the preflight script.

Once that has been done and the package closed, another try at the installation yields the desired result: a working installation of the Lego Mindstorms NXT software on a Mac running Snow Leopard.

Here’s a rundown of the steps to get the software to work on Snow Leopard:
1. Copy all files from the MINDSTORMS CD to a folder on your desktop.
2. Open that folder and look under “Parts”.
3. Locate MindstormsUnivEdu.pkg or MindstormsUnivRet.pkg.
4. Right-click (control-click) and choose “Show Package Contents”.
5. Navigate into the Contents » Resources directory and delete the “preflight” file.
6. Close this package and run the meta-package (LEGOMindstormsEngRet.mpkg) from the desktop to install MINDSTORMS NXT.

The rising up of the robots may commence…

Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 should be in-store sometime next week. Here are some more details regarding the 619 piece kit, numbered 8547.

Included in the box is the NXT brain, three servo motors and four sensors. The colour sensor is new and has a threefold purpose, sensing light, colour or functioning as a lamp. The intelligent NXT LEGO brick features 32-bit microprocessor, a large matrix display, four input and three output ports, and Bluetooth and USB communication.

Software for the NXT is available for both Macintosh and Windows computers and four included projects provide a running start for anyone considering robotics as a hobby.

To be honest, the set doesn’t provide anything groundbreaking. Various third-party NXT sensors have been available for quite some time, including a colour sensor. The NXT brick is effectively the same as the existing one. Nonetheless, it’s likely most NXT enthusiasts will be keen to add this to their collection, if only to boost the number of sensors, motors and brains to build some sophisticated robots.

Owners of the current NXT brick should be aware that programs for the new NXT 2.0 brick are not downward compatible, however NXT programs will run on the NXT 2.0.

The much-anticipated next generation Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 has arrived in the country and should be available at most Lego retailers some time next week.

The arrival of this product is more than a month in advance of its initial release date of August. I have a reliable source who has indicated that Lego South Africa is simply waiting for customs clearance…