title: What FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) can one buy to experiment with at home?
body: <p>What is an FPGA, and where can I buy one? How much do they cost?</p>
  
  <p>What sort of system do you need to experiment with them? How to program them?</p>
  
  <p>Can you "load" if that's the right term an FPGA using an ordinary Mac?</p>
  
  <p>Are they extremely expensive or can I buy one today?</p>
  
  <p>I have become interested in FPGAs after reading <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4503273/holistic-word-recognition-algorithm-in-detail">this question</a>.</p>