Mindstorms with LabVIEW

 LabVIEW is a programming language made by National Instruments and is used for real world programming. When you program your NXT, you are actually using a simplified version of LabVIEW. This simplified version was also created by National Instruments, and it makes it a lot easier to program your NXT than using the full on LabVIEW program. However, for quite a few years now I've been interested in learning the full on LabVIEW. I already know the basics from using the simplified NXT version and also from my robotics club. However, I knew that the LabVIEW program is extremely expensive (in the thousands) and I wouldn't even be able to us it on my NXT! My quest for an inexpensive, more-like-real-LabVIEW-that-also-works-on-the-NXT program began. I didn't end up looking very hard (I figured what ever I found would be too expensive anyway), and it wasn't until recently that a friend of mine, who is also in my robotics club, discovered exactly what I was looking for- LabVIEW™ Education Edition. Costing only $99.95 (USD), this software program is very inexpensive compared to the real LabVIEW program, and it seems like it includes all the same features! I ordered it just the other day, and it should be here soon. This item can be purchased at the LEGO Education Store. Here is a link to the product if you're interested in checking it out.