Communication computer/motor/sensor

[Quarternions]

I want to build some machine that involves some computer driven calculations, the problem is I have almost no experience in the hardware zone, I do on the other hand have experience programming.

Anyone knows some good website's to help me interface my computer to some motors / sensors (Serial port ? USB)

[Zero-Point]

[url]http://www.beyondlogic.org/serial/serial.htm[/url]

[MUFC2007]

[url=http://www.arduino.cc/]Audrino[/url], perhaps?

[Quarternions]

Looked at that, its awesome, only a little bit expensive to serve just as an interface between the computer and the hardware ? Any alternatives

[Chryseus]

Parallel port will do fine, you will also need an Analogue to Digital Converter as well if you want to read anything.