I also like the look of this book but no way am I willing to part with 100 bucks for bare boards. Does anyone know if there is enough circuit information to build them on a breadboard or perfboards? Cause I think the book looks worth 40 bucks.
Full schematics are given for all projects. There are no secrets. Also the sourcecode for the PIC processor is available.
Each book has a unique code in the backflap that allows you access to the download site.
Additional information such as PDF versions of the BOM can be downloaded there as well.
Building on perfboard is going to be a challenge. Apart from the 24Cxxx EEprom, PCF8563 RTC and the simple A/D D/A like the PCF8591 and the basic I/O with a PCF8574 none of the parts exist in thru-hole version.
The Potmeters, A/D D/A , Tempsensors , Bus multiplexers and advanced i/o cells in the PCA family are SMD only.
Some people may claim it is sad but we have to face the reality that thru-hole is going the way of the vacuum tube and dinosaur... 99% of new IC's released in the last 10 years is SMD only. Time to work on those soldering skills.