• Embedded Systems Design Using the TI MSP430 Series (Embedded Technology)
• MSP430 Microcontroller Basics
• Programming Embedded Systems: With C and GNU Development Tools, 2nd Edition
• Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers
• Complete PCB Design Using OrCad Capture and Layout

Too simplistic: 2 stars for EEs, 4-5 stars for embedded newbies
Review written by: J. LaCoss From Los Angeles, CA USA
Ever used an A-to-D? Ever programmed in assembly language? Yeah? BING! You're well past the audience this book is written for.

The format is OK, the material is clear, but I thought I was a-gonna get a book with design tricks and software that I could USE. There really isn't much of value here for the experienced designer/programmer. Oh well - I'll have to keep hunting.

If you've never built any hardware, then maybe this really IS the book for you! Well, you best read the basic electronics stuff pretty carefully. Also, I'd go get a Texas Instruments eZ430-F2013 Development Tool for 20 bucks and save the kludge-together part of the exercise: you can get up and running faster with something that actually works right outa da box, plus it comes with basic software tools.

Tries hard, but comes up lacking.
Review written by: C. Hargis From DC
The above review is an excellent description and as such I will spare everyone my similar experience. Just wanted to second the first review.

Introductory electronics text, lacks real MSP430 instruction.
Review written by: Philip J. Taylor From midwest
I've worked through this book thoroughly after purchasing it thru Amazon.

It is an elementary electronics text that is somehow quite dense. It serves as a somewhat abstract text on a lot of basic electronics circuits. It has the feel of a boilerplate electronics course -- things that seem to be cut and pasted out of other electronics textbooks. So for this, the information it useful, but I already have several textbooks that are both more thorough and more expertly and clearly written.

Texas Instruments (TI) recommends this book as the best reference guide to using their MSP430 microcontrollers. Unfortunately, all of the info included in this book is available online, excepting a very simple example project--a digital thermometer.

Caution: NO LINUX.

The book describes using the MSP430 only with a proprietary programming system--and at that the information on this proprietary system is actually out of date. It has been replaced with newer versions.

People interested in this book need to know that the info on the MSP430 microcontroller is extremely topical. There is very little to help you get oriented on a first design--and the text insists that you have no choice over your development platform--this is especially unfortunate since there are several development environments, including MSPGCC (which is totally free and very powerful) and low cost, effective compilers like imagecraft.

The MSP430 reference sections of this book are redundent with other versions available online, and are in some ways less straightforward than the device datasheets. For example, over 50 pages are dedicated to an instruction set summary -- something obviously provided by the manufacturer.

Tis is a basic electronics book with one MSP430 project. If you don't need an electronics tutorial, and if you don't want to use IAR's out of date software, then you'll probably want to stay away from this textbook.