SparkFun Pro Mini ATmega328-5V/16MHz Development Board Compatible with Arduino Boards and IDE

So it's everything you love about the arduino but in a bite-size piece. I've got the uno, the nano and now the mini. Works with all my code and would probably buy it again. A little pricey, but what do you expect from a super light, power-sipper and tiny android platform ;PThe one caviot is that you'll need a FTDI breakout board in order to configure it. Not the end of the world, without it, the power utilization is better and you really only need it for serial debugging and programming.5 stars! Love Sparkfun.

This device is so tiny and cool I want to lick it. However that could damage the electronics so I have resisted the impulse.The description is pretty clear that unlike some of the other Arduinos you need a separate device to program the Pro Mini and you will need to do some soldering to get it hooked up to anything.The description recommends starting out with an Arduino Duemilanove. Please note that the Duemilanove has been superseded by the Arduino Uno. Both can be powered by and programmed over USB and support a number of interface "shields" that can be chained to add capabilities such as ethernet, SD card support, cellular modems, zigbee radios, etc.

I definitely recommend grabbing a variant such as this one which breaks out the extra four inputs. Not all applications may need (or want) them, but I like having as much of the hardware available to me as possible, and I found a way to solder them so everything's available. My recommendation:Solder the long sides of the pins downward below the sides ('downward' relative to the way the product is depicted in the title image).Solder the programming header either vertically up or using their 90-degree pins as desiredSolder the extra inputs "opposite" the other pins -- so have the long side facing up and the pin "sitting on top" of the unit before soldering.The extra pins are not aligned with everything else, so if you want to insert it into a breadboard, then pay attention to how the pins on 'extra inputs' are oriented.

Ordered five, got three.

These are counterfeits. They are NOT made by SparkFun, and are therefore NOT endorsed by Arduino. The PCB is about 3-4 times as thick as real Pro Minis. I will be returning mine, and highly suggest that people order direct from the source instead of dealing with these identically priced counterfeits.

this board is grate for any project you plan to leave the board in easy to work with use pines as needed and nothing to get in the way and very light which is what I wanted. I used this with the board from a Wii motion+ to control a multi rotor air craft.you need to be care full with your pin out as it can be easy to short out. It is mostly protected but things can happen better safe and bubble checkMAC

Works fine, came quickly. No problems.

Linked to for 3D printer project on Thingiverse and Instructables. Have not used yet but powers up fine. Learning Arduino on Uno first but this has about the same power as Uno but is cheaper so will imbed in project.