# Has anyone ordered the "Internet of Things bundle" from PopSci Shop? (Popular Science) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256 "2021-01-11T14:08:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/1 "2021-01-11T14:08:30Z")
I’m thinking to get it for my youngest, but I’m dubious that it’s really $1,800 worth for $29. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/2 "2021-01-11T14:18:03Z")
You know they’re online courses ? (cool user name btw) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/3 "2021-01-11T14:34:25Z")
[Here’s a link to it.](https://www.popsci.com/mastering-internet-of-things-bundle/) ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/4 "2021-01-11T15:50:51Z")
Let me guess…the online courses cost extra. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/5 "2021-01-11T16:27:10Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > the online courses cost extra. Actually, the online course – all lectures – is the only thing included. No software, no hardware. On the purchase page, the actual course contents are described. 9 distinct courses, and each has a “SPECS” tab that lists what’s included. Included: on-line lectures. Not included: any hardware or software you would need to implement any of the examples or exercises given in the lectures. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/6 "2021-01-11T16:39:59Z")
If you think about it, once you develop online content like a course, the incremental cost of delivering it to a user is almost nothing. So even though the bundle in the OP has a claimed value of $1,800, they’ll probably still make a profit selling it for $29. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/7 "2021-01-11T18:21:35Z")
1. It indicates that each individual course has a $200 value. Have they ever actually sold these courses for $200? 2. What is the actual cost, including software and hardware? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/8 "2021-01-11T18:41:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It indicates that each individual course has a $200 value. Have they ever actually sold these courses for $200? I don’t know. Quite possibly not. $200 is like an MSRP: no one outside the process knows what goes into the calculations, but “making the discount price look good” must surely be a factor. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > What is the actual cost, including software and hardware? No one has computed a Bill of Materials, AFAIK. As I said, the “SPECS” tab gives hardware requirements in a general sense, like “Complete Arduino kit” or “Essential tools (not included): a mini breadboard, jumper wires, a multimeter, a soldering iron & solder, wire cutter”. If someone wants to price that, go for it. Boiling it down: you’re getting curated access to several dozen hours of Youtube (or YouTube-like) IoT how-to videos. Everything else is on you. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ordered-the-internet-of-things-bundle-from-popsci-shop-popular-science/930256/9 "2021-01-11T21:29:32Z")
It looks as though this is a custom selection of courses from [Makerdemy.com](http://Makerdemy.com), which is based in India - the value they’re quoting appears to be the list price on that site. I can only find a few reviews and comments on makerdemy content, but they weren’t very flattering.