Review on 💡 Mini Nano V3.0 ATmega328P Microcontroller Board with USB Cable - Ideal for Arduino Projects and Programming by Scott King

Despite the flaws in the documentation, it's quite possibly my favorite Nano clone. Great value for money, and it's a solid, well-built unit. First off, it's basically just the form factor that I like: a basic breadboard small enough to be used in almost any project, and a wire wrap for permanent use (or connector desoldering). Uno power in a much smaller form factor and USB programming. My first complaint was that they used to come in packaging that didn't protect against ESD. My last order was shipped on July 25, 2015 in anti-static packaging, BIG IMPROVEMENT. Well done Alison. You get a star for that. My second complaint is clearly about the seller: the seller doesn't state in the product description that they don't use an FTDI chip but use a WCH340G USB chip. Also, the seller does not provide the original URL of the installed WCH340G driver in the product description or together with the product/packaging. In addition, since the product is sold internationally, and especially in the US, the seller has to solve the problem of organizing a US language website for drivers and an English datasheet on the WCH340G USB serial chip, IMHO. This must be documented in the product description; This is a CRITICAL MATERIAL DIFFERENCE between it and the real Arduino Nano and what they describe. And may render the device unusable/unsuitable for certain applications that would otherwise be assumed to have received a product description. Warning: The WCH340G sometimes goes USB crazy when plugged in directly as it draws more current than it should before identifying itself, which sometimes causes a host system (MacIntosh in my case) to panic equipment. Also, if you're flashing USB to emulate another device (e.g. a MIDI device or a USB host), you have to keep in mind that you're not using an FTDI chip and it may not be suitable or usable for your device . Expression. Use with an optically isolated, self-powered USB hub for hassle-free use. I only use this with an optically isolated boot-powered USB hub, a hub that can send full amps down with no issues. One last note: All the LEDs on the board are RED and very close together. I would prefer the power supply to be green and the LED on pin 13 a different green or amber color or something other than the same color as the RX/TX lights and the power supply LED due to their close proximity. I really don't like it when sellers sell items on Amazon and customers have to rely on other customers (and customers have to do the supplier's job) to get the basic information and support that the supplier should be providing. I don't know if providing knowledge helps keep this going any more than criticism and rejections (assuming the vendor bothers to read their product reviews). I have several of these and will likely have more in the future. Driver: directly from the chip manufacturer (Chinese side): WCH 340 product homepage: http://www.wch.cn/product/CH340.htmlhttp://www.wch.cn/download/CH341SER_LINUX_ZIP.html (Linux should work fine without driver ) http://www.wch.cn/download/CH341SER_MAC_ZIP.html http://www.wch-ic.com/download/list.asp?id=127 (Windows)