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Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

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Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#131

Post by pjmlp »

glimshe wrote: post #66
Grimburger wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A pi by itself, eh I don't know. A pi + a full kit like breadboard/cables, LCD/LED display panels, camera, microphone/speaker, air sensors, IR sensors, gyros, etc. Now that's got a chance. It's certainly not going to be for all kids but for those with an inquisitive mind once you set them up and show how to display output in various ways they will start to see the potential. From there you can move onto basic rc hobb…

The Raspberry Pi 400 is the closest thing you can get to, let's say, ZX Spectrum.

The closest thing is a ZX Spectrum Next, for the lucky ones that manage to own one.

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#133

Post by tepitoperrito »

f1shy wrote: post #126
seanthemon wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Frankly what you're asking for in your last sentence is just a Pi

And with which SW? I mean, I can do “anything” with C++, but doing what I did in Basic in 100 lines would need 1000, plus downloading libraries and frameworks and reading several 500+ pages manuals. If your kid is not an english native speaker, you have yet another hurdle.

maybe check out PICO 8. It's basically a VM (self styled fantasy game console) that runs on a bunch of devices and an active community. https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php

A similar project that I'm eager to hack on (or maybe try my hand at implementing something similar in WASM) is the UXN platform. https://100r.co/site/uxn.html

And if we're already talking VM platforms to explore, there's no reason that someone who doesn't want to do software professionally can't get a lot of enjoyment from some basic syntax knowledge and making modifications to software they use every day (whether that's writing a userscript in your browser or exploring your favorite game via mods)

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#135

Post by jdjdjdjdjduuuu »

Grimburger wrote: post #38
talkingtab wrote: post #27

A Rasberry Pi. The number of things you can do with these cheap computers is astronomical. You can have a Debian Linux computer and then learn networking, programming, run your own small website. Then start on hardware. Connect up various hardware devices, maybe starting with just a fan. Turn on. Turn off. A second monitor, larger disks. Webrtc. On an on. You never know what kinds of things kids will like. They may l…

A pi by itself, eh I don't know. A pi + a full kit like breadboard/cables, LCD/LED display panels, camera, microphone/speaker, air sensors, IR sensors, gyros, etc. Now that's got a chance. It's certainly not going to be for all kids but for those with an inquisitive mind once you set them up and show how to display output in various ways they will start to see the potential. From there you can move onto basic rc hobb…

Why not go for esp8266 if you just want to use sensors? Pi is overkill

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#136

Post by gnatman »

rapjr9 wrote: post #87

A music synthesizer. It's a pathway to learning electronics, music, and the nature of sound. There are cheap kits, cheap synths, lots of kinds of synths, and there are much more complicated and expensive systems you can grow into. You can get software synths also, VCV Rack is a free though complex one: https://vcvrack.com/ However I'd recommend an inexpensive hardware one with real knobs you can turn, like one of the…

I really like this suggestion, and the others listed. What they have in common is they're cultivating a creative and curious DIY attitude. If you can figure out how a small engine runs, or how sounds are created, or how to use woodworking tools, you build confidence that the same process of patient exploration can be applied to anything- including computers, code, and games!

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#137

Post by rg111 »

pests wrote: post #123
Grimburger wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Arduino has the very approachable scratch as a language + beginner friendly ide and a good community but I feel like a pi or similar board that you can drop ubuntu on and run some python scripts opens up more possibilities. Then point them at chatgpt and see what happens haha.

But what does that give you that a regular desktop can't provide? The only novelty of a PI or a audrino is the pins.

That's like saying the only novelty of trolley bags are the wheels.

That's. The. Point.

Instead of a closed down consumer hardware like a phone, tab, laptop, there's something that you can physically expand, read data from nature using it, and make changes directly in the physical world using code.

That's fantastic and exciting.

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#138

Post by mharig »

f1shy wrote: post #126
seanthemon wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Frankly what you're asking for in your last sentence is just a Pi

And with which SW? I mean, I can do “anything” with C++, but doing what I did in Basic in 100 lines would need 1000, plus downloading libraries and frameworks and reading several 500+ pages manuals. If your kid is not an english native speaker, you have yet another hurdle.

MicroPython. On any hardware it runs. RaPi ist not the worst choice.

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#139

Post by glimshe »

pjmlp wrote: post #131
glimshe wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Raspberry Pi 400 is the closest thing you can get to, let's say, ZX Spectrum.

The closest thing is a ZX Spectrum Next, for the lucky ones that manage to own one.

Yeah, that's what I didn't mention it. I myself wanted one, but there is no way to buy it unless you are fine paying exorbitant prices when it comes for auction on ebay... Which goes against the goal of a low cost computer for learning.

Re: Ask HN: Whats the modern day equivalent of 80s computer for kids to explore?

#140

Post by pests »

rg111 wrote: post #137
pests wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But what does that give you that a regular desktop can't provide? The only novelty of a PI or a audrino is the pins.

That's like saying the only novelty of trolley bags are the wheels. That's. The. Point. Instead of a closed down consumer hardware like a phone, tab, laptop, there's something that you can physically expand, read data from nature using it, and make changes directly in the physical world using code. That's fantastic and exciting.

We are in agreement.

The pins are the point.

> there's something that you can physically expand, read data from nature using it, and make changes directly in the physical world using code.

You can't do this with _just_ a RPI though.

A RPI without any extra sensors or electronics is just a desktop.

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