It’s great reading a fairly long story, complete with pictures, and still not knowing when I got done what in the heck the thing is for. :-)
— signed, Not A Tech Geek
No sweat. The Raspberry Pi is a computer. It is the size of a deck of playing cards (ok, maybe a pinochle deck)when put into a separately sold case.
It is to tech geeks what the krate engine is to gear heads, a side of beef to chefs, a gift card to home depot for he improvements guy, kitchen pass to the mid-life crisis guy, etc.
It can be whatever the lucky possessor wants it to be. Seen guys make TIVO/entertainment servers, small footprint desktop computing (Really small), plugged and programmed into some of the early recreational drones to run specific routes while shooting video and doing stunts.
If one remembers when one could build heathkit radios, or rebuild just about anything electronic with a manual and a trip to radio shack, this little (and CHEAP....under 50.00) device is that kind of hobbyist’s dream.
Cheers!
Just think of it as a tiny, low powered Linux server with a bajillion hobby uses. I’ve used mine as a home theater server, Voice Over IP telephone server, etc. The CPU is about as powerful as one you’d find in a 4 year old smart phone if that gives you any idea. The graphics processor is powerful enough to play high definition movies, though.