Using XBee modules and microcontrollers to host sensors is an economical way to build a sensor network. But what do you do when you need more computational power than a microcontroller can provide? What if you need to convert the data to a different format, incorporate the data in an application, or print a hard copy of the sensor data? In these situations, you likely need a computer that has more processing power, can allow the use of common applications, permits the use of scripting languages, and affords access to peripherals.
Although personal computers ...
