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Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

raspberrypi.org

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Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#361
post #284

Too bad they didn't include camera module connector (CSI). Low-latency hardware-encoded h264 stream from camera is one of the most cool features in RPi platform. The Zero would be great e.g. for FPV fying folks, if it supported camera module. (USB cameras aren't answer here, as they typically don't have low-latency hw-encoding.)

Yeah, I had hoped for that as well. But connectors cost money. Could the camera module be attached via the header?

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#362
post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neat. Not exactly what I imagined but probably a lot more practical OTOH. I'd just like a standardized high speed interconnection port with power supply and a shared router of some form. Probably would be more plausible when high speed optical links becomes cheap and ubiquitous enough so that a single thin cable can be drawn from each module to an PoE equipped router, so there's not a large mess of wires. Then the on…

"Optical" and "PoE" do not go together?

One cable can hold both fiber and copper wires. I think some thunderbolt cables do that.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#364
post #357

I just bought 2 magpi to get 2 raspiberry pi zero but connecting then to a android charger (without and with sdcard http://director.downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspbian_lite/imag... ) none of then lights the green led to indicate power on. Someone have a different experience or can tell something about this ?

I bought a copy of MagPi, and my Raspberry Pi Zero does not light up when I apply power. But if I connect it to my PC with a USB cable the Broadcom BCM2708 Boot device is detected, so I assume it is working. I haven't tested with SDcard present.

Yes I also did connect to my linux laptop and it also detects the Broadcom BCM2708. I was expecting to be able to connect it to a linux box via usb as it is and open a ssh connection through tty but they didn't made it that easy it's a shame.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#365

This is great, but for people who want to "get started in computing", don't they also need a display, a mouse and a keyboard? LCD screens are like, $100, a mouse is $10-$20 new and low-end keyboards are $10-$30. At that combined price, why does it matter if the computer is $25 or $5? And if one is going to outlay the 150 bucks in peripherals, they might as well spend a bit more than $5 on the computer to get a signif…

With shipping (and the fact that Pis are currently hard to get) Pis can go up to $40 or $50.

In countries like India, that's expensive. Not prohibitively, but you think twice before using a Pi for a project. I'm currently studying at a tech institute and have been part of the group trying to get folks to do more tech. Generally we focus on Arduinos for freshmen because they're 3x/4x as cheap as a Pi and easy to get your hands on. I'd love to have more folks doing projects with Pis, but it's just too expensive.

Peripherals? They're lying around. You can find an old monitor or TV anywhere, or just share one with an existing machine. A lot of projects with Pis don't even need peripherals.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a lot of peripherals lying around. Even years ago when I didn't have two pennies to rub together I could still get unwanted keyboards/mice and even smaller unwanted screens. On the flip side, I don't need a screen for all my computers. Some are network devices now (SSH only) and some share the same screen because I use them for different things at different times.

Right? But there are also plenty of computers with 512 MB of RAM lying around that you can get for free. And they're 'programmable' too.

Physical space, noise, and running costs are also important considerations for many people.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#367

This is great, but for people who want to "get started in computing", don't they also need a display, a mouse and a keyboard? LCD screens are like, $100, a mouse is $10-$20 new and low-end keyboards are $10-$30. At that combined price, why does it matter if the computer is $25 or $5? And if one is going to outlay the 150 bucks in peripherals, they might as well spend a bit more than $5 on the computer to get a signif…

> This is great, but for people who want to "get started in computing", don't they also need a display, a mouse and a keyboard? Who are you quoting there? It's not the article. Is Raspberry Pi being marketed at beginners, or for conventional desktop use? That wasn't my impression.

That may not be the goal of this particular model, but it was the point of making the Raspberry Pi in the first place, yes. It was meant to be a modern equivalent to the BBC Micro; a way to give every kid affordable access to a computer with an aim towards teaching them computing (as opposed to using an office suite). They'd need a keyboard of some sort, but they could use a television as a monitor (as most of us once did). Languages like Scratch were part of the project. That seems to have gotten lost among the possibilities that a small, cheap Linux machine offers to the grown-ups among us.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a lot of peripherals lying around. Even years ago when I didn't have two pennies to rub together I could still get unwanted keyboards/mice and even smaller unwanted screens. On the flip side, I don't need a screen for all my computers. Some are network devices now (SSH only) and some share the same screen because I use them for different things at different times.

Right? But there are also plenty of computers with 512 MB of RAM lying around that you can get for free. And they're 'programmable' too.

While this is not enough to run a latest MS or IntelliJ IDE and Chrome with 100 tabs open, 512 MB is adequate to run vim/emacs, some Ruby / Python / Go / Node.js / Rust / you-name-it code, and a moderate browser session. Quite enough to gain some highly marketable skills using hardware that costs a couple of cups of coffee to nothing.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#369
post #26

This is seriously impressive. While the Raspberry Pi is not the perfect hacker-friendly computer, it has done a lot of good. Some reasons off the top of my head: 1. Providing a low cost computer has given many people access to computers. Giving more people access to the web, email, an office suit, a programming environment AND giving people the ability of safely tinker without the fear of bricking an expensive device…

> I think some Wayland work was also done

Done then abandoned. Doesn't work with their currently shipping hardware/OS.

Re: Raspberry Pi Zero: the $5 computer

#370
I'll be that guy. The chip is cool but still requires multiple components through usb to do something useful. What I want is a $5 hackable phone with battery, touch lcd, camera, wifi e.t.c

Great if it has a solar panel and gpio, so I can stick it anywhere and forget about it.

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