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Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

raspberrypi.org

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Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#161

Post by listic »

bootload wrote: post #54

Blown away with this. As a youngster cutting my teeth on Cambridge based computers, great to see a Welsh machine. Currently using RPis for most of my development, I'm working on a design for a RP laptop. Not hard, but I did want to thrown in multiple boards. This looks to be one way to achieve this. Technical details (cant seem to find any power requirements) and tour here from adafruit: - https://learn.adafruit.com/…

Do you want to have multiple boards in a laptop? In that case, it would be great to have high-speed interconnect between them, I guess.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#162

Post by andrepd »

creshal wrote: post #143
Natanael_L wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This could even act as a custom chromecast-ish device. Still cheaper too! (Although it lacks WiFi AC that the new chromecast has, and probably way weaker graphics, but a cheap WiFi adapter or ethernet and having most stuff streamed should be workable.)

> (Although it lacks WiFi AC that the new chromecast has, and probably way weaker graphics, but a cheap WiFi adapter or ethernet and having most stuff streamed should be workable.) This irks me a bit with the new "$5" RPi. Yes, it's $5… For a device without a power cord, without networking, and where you need adapters (and/or solder on a UART) to plug anything into it.

So... you will need to buy a power adapter and an Ethernet cable? That will come to, what, another fiver?

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#163

Post by vertis »

woodson wrote: post #17

Somewhat disappointing that in Australia RPi Zero costs AU$19.38 (plus AU$12.95 shipping). Quite a lot more than US$5 (=AU$6.93).

Indeed. Seems we have some stores here that think it's fine to double or triple the price.

I decided to buy one from the UK for $16 dollars including shipping.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#164

Post by radiorental »

deadfish wrote: post #109
TeMPOraL wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mine[0] has CE on the back, but this is China, they print anything and everything on the back... [0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10632118

CE stands for Chinese Engineering :D

Close.. I believe it actually is 'Chinese Export' when you ask but the goal is the same, to imply certification (o;

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#166

Post by cm2187 »

StavrosK wrote: post #154

The 80s are widely considered as the golden age of hacking, but what the hell? I just bought ten microcontrollers that can run Lua/Python/C for $20, there are full-blown computers for $5, and all the supporting ecosystem (sensors, components, etc) is cheaper than most toys. I am very optimistic about the future, given that people (and children) these days have trivially cheap access to powerful programmable and easil…

Plus standardisation (linux, usb, arm, etc) which I understand was one thing lacking in the 80s.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#167

Post by alexbilbie »

Piskvorrr wrote: post #165
dkx wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They already have: https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/

6 quid is not quite free - but reasonably close.

The magazine is £5.99 every issue to buy so yes the included PI is free. Not only are you getting a PI but you're getting a magazine full of advice and tutorials for the computer they've included.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#168

Post by StavrosK »

IanCal wrote: post #121
mgraupner wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even more awesome: Skip the extra Arduino and use the ESP8266 as your Arduino. https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino

I realise how silly this question may seem but here we go: If I get an ESP8266, I can have something that run code, sit on my home network wirelessly and use it to do things like report on sensor inputs? Am I missing some larger expense that would be required as this seems very cheap compared to other options I've seen.

The cost is $4 for a NodeMCU, $2 for the sensors, $1 for a breadboard to stick them on, and $1 for a microUSB cable to power them from. You can power the sensors from the NodeMCU's Vin, since that's the 5V from the USB.

I have done exactly this, it sends values to an MQTT server on my NAS every second or so, which the NAS then adds to Graphite and plots them in Grafana. It also has some logic to act on these values and send commands back, like turning lights on and off, etc.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#169

Post by IanCal »

mgraupner wrote: post #141
IanCal wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I realise how silly this question may seem but here we go: If I get an ESP8266, I can have something that run code, sit on my home network wirelessly and use it to do things like report on sensor inputs? Am I missing some larger expense that would be required as this seems very cheap compared to other options I've seen.

The only other part needed to get this running is a programming cable. The ESP8266 does not have a USB port but a serial one, so you need an adapter to connect and programm it. e.g.: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12977 Just be careful not to connect the 5V VCC to the ESP8266, it will probably kill it.

That's fantastic, thanks :)

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#170

Post by [deleted] »

Mchl wrote: post #130
IanCal wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I realise how silly this question may seem but here we go: If I get an ESP8266, I can have something that run code, sit on my home network wirelessly and use it to do things like report on sensor inputs? Am I missing some larger expense that would be required as this seems very cheap compared to other options I've seen.

Simply put ESP8266 & Co. are awesomeness incorporated. http://www.instructables.com/howto/esp8266/

[deleted]
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