Introduction to Embedded Systems: Using Microcontrollers and the MSP430

This book is about as interesting to read as the actual programing manual of the MSP430 series...It just explains functions, registers and has endless lists of msp430 specific functionality.If you want to learn how to actually use ucontrollers, this is not the book for you.

This book was really useful for my CPE 301 class hosted at UNR. I would give a 5 star, but sadly I felt like that although this book was good for class it was definitely not something I would recommend to just read and learn from. Without the professors guidance in lecture, this book would be very difficult to read. It's a tad dry and filled with a lot of lexicon that a CS or EE major should be equipped with before hopping in. If you are interested in embedded systems, micro processers, micro computers, and coding with a computer on a chip to make small projects. I recommend instead checking out our 2nd book that we had in class "The AVR Microcontroler And Embedded Systems Using Assembly And C" by Ali Mazidi. Besides that the physical quality was beyond excellent (no scratches or tears of any kind)

One of the best books on Embedded Systems for Software Engineers. Especially suitable for people coming from a high-level software domain ("high-level" here meaning C/C++ level and NOT Web/Database etc.). Every aspect of an Embedded System is first explained in a general way (and extensively illustrated!) and then its realization in the MSP430 family is shown. However, because the principles are explained so clearly, you can apply it to learning any MCU family of your choice (of course, with the corresponding datasheets). One point to note is that this book deals only with "bare-metal" MCU programming and hence you will not find any discussions of RTOS and higher-level software layers. For experienced software engineers moving down into the embedded MCU domain, the challenge has always been understanding the various aspects of Hardware and how to interface to it without needing to get a EE/Electronics degree (of course, some amount of Electronics knowledge is needed). For them the real meat of the book starts from Chapter 6 and continues through to Chapter 10 (the end of the book). This book paired with a couple of others (listed below) will enable any "Software Engineer" to become an "Embedded Software Engineer"!On the HW Side:1) The book being reviewed,2)  Designing Embedded Hardware: Create New Computers and Devices  - This is another highly accessible book which explains the Hardware side very clearly.On the SW Side:1)  Embedded C  - One of the best books to get started with C programming for MCUs. Uses the 8051 family.2)  Patterns for Time-Triggered Embedded Systems: Building Reliable Applications with the 8051 Family of Microcontrollers (with CD-ROM)  _ This book is available for free on the author's company website. The subjects covered are very comprehensive and has lots and lots of code to study from (the best way to learn!).Finally, the publisher needs to bring out a low-price edition of this book to really help the students/hobbyists. Embedded Systems Development have gone "main-stream" thanks to Arduino etc. and thus every student/hobbyist will be well served by studying this book and getting their fundamentals clear. Designing Embedded Hardware: Create New Computers and DevicesEmbedded CPatterns for Time-Triggered Embedded Systems: Building Reliable Applications with the 8051 Family of Microcontrollers (with CD-ROM)

Going through this book is a great experience. Most books teach you the theory about microcontrollers, but few of them go further.than that. Introduction to Embedded Systems: Using Microcontrollers and the MSP430 however, uses the MSP430 family to give you the experience of seeing actual examples, in real life, about the theory you are reading.In every topic on this book you will see the following pattern:Theory about important embedded systems/microcontrollers concepts --> How to apply that concept in real world using an MSP430, with real code (C and assembly language) in realistic applications.The book is well organized and very visual, allowing the user to visualize even the most abstract concepts.In my opinion, one of the best microcontrollers books of this generation and I would recommend it for an embedded systems course at university level.

A very comprehensive textbook, from numbering systems, microprocessor concepts, through extensive MSP430 coverage. Excellent coverage on IO, LCD and LED interfacing, motor interfacing, more. While I have used numerous TI Workshops and web content, am very pleased with purchasing this book, for its "University" quality content.