[dorkbotpdx-blabber] dorkboard vs. pro-mini ; benito vs. ftdi

[Mykle Hansen]

hi all,

i'm gearing up for my next Arduino adventure, and
am faced with a choice:  should i go Dorkboard? or
use the SparkFun Arduino Pro Mini?

   http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8824

... of course, apples to apples, i would use the Dorkboard
just to support the home team.  although i do love the SparkFun
guys.

but what it comes down to is, i don't think i want to deal with
hand-soldering surface-mount chips.  (i know i could do it
eventually, but i just don't love soldering that much.
maybe if i had a paste-stencil and one of those hot air
tools it would be easier, but i'm just one guy with a
weller and bad eyesight ...)

are there already-built Dorkboards out there, waiting to
be bought? from you?  by me?  or is it kit-only at this point?
or is it etch-your-own board and RTFM?

also, there is this programmer/loader puzzlement.  the
Dorkboard interfaces with USB over Don's Benito 7g adapter
... are any Benitos built?  or is that another project?

meanwhile, the SparkFun equivalent is this FTDI unit:

   http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8772

... but it turns out the drivers require my Mac to run Leopard --
weak!  So that's another hassle I'd like to avoid ...
in my perfect world where everything is easy, i
never burn my fingertips, money grows out of my butt, etc.

-m-