I'm a .NET C# developer looking to do some hardware interfacing/programming. I just want something super simple to mess around with. I have done one of those basic stamp projects, but I want something with less electrical work. A self-contained piece of hardware would be fine.

• I'm not really looking to do embedded programming... but that would actually be pretty cool if something was capable of running .net code.
• I'm looking for something that would be easy to connect, hopefully via USB. Serial ports seems to be more hit or miss nowadays with laptops and netbooks.
• Something I can easily send data to, like a mini LCD, or series of LED's.
• Better yet would be something that provides feedback, like a temperature sensor.
• The best would be something more featured that I could talk to. I would be able to send data to it, and it would send back responses. Maybe something like a servo that could report it's position? Or maybe something that I could set parameters on?

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!