Buy Raspberry Pi – An Affordable Single Board Computer

Are you in the process of getting a new computer?

I have read many articles from the ReadCash community that they need a new computer. They need it badly because a smartphone is not nicely serving the purpose of typing and blogging online.

Most of the bloggers discuss the affordability of laptop prices.

Some of them even express their fund crisis for buying a new laptop. Many are students studying in high schools, colleges, and universities. Therefore, the student community needs affordable computers for studying purposes.

Most of us are now having an acute fund crunch due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns. Thus, price is an issue for buying a new desktop or laptop computer. Smartphones are not able to serve all purposes.

Today, I shall write about a tiny single-board computer device available globally in numbers at an affordable price. It is also suitable for the students to run hands-on projects on electronics and computer sciences.

Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized single-board computer

• Created and marketed in 2012 by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Raspberry Pi is the world's first credit-card-sized single-board computer.

• Initially, it was thought to serve only Python programming applications; hence the developers chose the second name "Pi."

• But, Raspberry Pi was brought to the market with all features of a full-fledged computer. The original name remained as the history of its development.

The base price of a Raspberry was set US Dollar 35 only with 256 MB RAM and 700 MHz ARM11 SoC (system on chip) processor. The features has been improving fast, but the price remains the same low. Now, Raspberry Pi 4 has 1 GB to 4 GB RAM. Its processor specification is 1.5GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72.

Raspberry Pi was aimed to inspire high school students to study computer science. Raspberry Pi has been used in many high-tech projects worldwide, including nanosatellites, weather monitoring balloons, smart surveillance cameras, etc.

Image: Bordered Screenshot from: "Raspberry Pi 4" https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/

Raspberry Pi has all features of a computer running GNU/Linux

Raspberry Pi is the main computer board containing an SoC (system on chip) processor and built-in RAM, gigabyte internet, HDMI, USB and ethernet ports, built-in WiFi, camera interface, general-purpose input-output (GPIO) pins for driving electronic circuitry applications, etc. Raspberry Pi uses insertable flash memory sticks as a hard disk.

Raspberry Pi runs on GNU/Linux operating system called Raspbian, which is based on Debian GNU/Linux with all application software for day to day works, including text, image, programming, Internet browsing, entertainment, office package LibreOffice. All applications software available on Debian GNU/Linux are installable.

The Raspberry Pi runs on 5V/700mA power supplies similar to smartphone chargers. You need a monitor display unit, keyboard, and mice. You can also use your TV display via the HDMI port. It doesn't require any fan to cool the board. It is a fanless, energy-efficient device that runs silently and uses far less power than other computers. The current Raspberry Pi 4 can simultaneously run dual displays at full 4k resolution.

Video: Source "Raspberry Pi 4: your new $35 computer"

You can use Raspberry Pi for writing and blogging

I often read that many bloggers type their blogs using smartphones because they can't afford to buy laptops/desktops. Bloggers with money crunch can buy Raspberry Pi and use it as a computer. In reality, a Raspberry Pi is no less than a desktop or laptop computer.

Raspberry Pi can be used for your blogging and writing jobs. You can browse the Internet very fast using Raspberry Pi’s gigabyte ethernet facility.

Raspian OS has LibreOffice which can be used to typeset text documents. GIMP can be used to manipulate images. There is movie editing software, such as FFMPEG. You can enjoy watching movies on YouTube and other video platforms. VLC can be used to view videos offline.

I had purchased my first Raspberry Pi in 2013

The first one was Raspberry Pi model B with 512 MB RAM. The cost was US$35. I bought it from a reseller in Bangalore, India for about INR 2700. The reseller kept some profit margin.

I had first checked the Raspberry Pi with our very old TV screen as the display, keyboards, mice from our desktop, and my 5V/700mA mobile phone charger as the power supply. I used probably 4 GB standard flash stick as secondary memory (hard disk).

I had used the first Raspberry Pi for many small projects for my students. Then, our fifth standard studying son also played enough with the first Raspberry Pi. There is an interesting visual programming application.

Later, I purchased three more Raspberry Pi. My students' last project was developing a smart surveillance camera using Raspberry Pi and the Raspberry Pi Camera. Now, Raspberry Pi 4 comes with a maximum of 4 GB RAM and dual displays.

Students can run STEM projects on Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi has a matching Raspberry Pi Camera. Third-party electronics boards, such as Arduino, can be interfaced with a Raspberry Pi to carry out electronic project experiments. Raspberry Pi and its accessories are well suited for students' projects in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Raspberry Pi is most suitable for hands-on electronics and computer science projects. Students can build smart project applications using Raspberry Pi inside their own dormitories or homes.

There are extensive study materials available freely on the Raspberry Pi Foundation website. Some additional documents and books have come in print to help students in innovative project developments, such as home automation, temperature and humidity sensor, smart gardening, etc.

Bringing it altogether

• Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer with excellent features.

• Raspberry Pi can do all jobs of a computer.

• Raspberry Pi is very small, not more than the size of a credit card.

• The base price of a Raspberry Pi is only US$35.

• Raspberry Pi is suitable for carrying out science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) projects for high school and college students.

• A blogger can use a Raspberry Pi to do all their needs, including writing and browsing the Internet, publishing, viewing/downloading videos, engaging with fellow bloggers, etc.

• Raspberry Pi is a very useful computer device for the entire family.

Postscript

I have been practicing STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for many years. I create solutions for password and cybersecurity relevant to blockchain and cryptocurrency.

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Text and Image Copyright: Unity

Lead Image:  I created the GIF lead image with my text and a screenshot from https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/.

All other graphics and videos are credited just below it.

Disclaimer: All texts are mine and original. Any similarity and resemblance to any other content are purely accidental. The article is not advice for life, career, business, or investment. Do your research before adopting any options.

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February 28, 2022.