You might want to try http://mbed.org/ The mbed platform is a rapid prototyping system based on the Cortex-M3, but which can be programmed via a USB connection to a PC, and which uses a web-based compiler framework. The board is relatively inexpensive, includes a license for the web-based compiler, and the site comes with loads of example projects. Being a microcontroller platform it comes with plenty of interface pins / connectors, allowing it to be connected to sensors, motors, etc. It is certainly a good platform to learn the basics.Iso