Raspberry Pi mini computer becomes a tech playground

OC Register ^ | March 7, 2013 Updated: March 8, 2013 8:55 a.m. | IAN HAMILTON / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The bare-bones $35 computer by a Broadcom engineer teaches programming skills to children.

Broadcom engineer Eben Upton started a foundation with a simple goal: to make and sell an inexpensive computer that could help teach children computer programming.

The result: Upton created the Raspberry Pi, a $35 computer slightly larger than an Altoids tin that's like a blank slate for tech enthusiasts.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Not sure of the details on this story,....but featured this morning on the front page of the Business section of the Orange County Register.

[ShadowAce]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

• GRAPHIC: One smart piece of pi

[Donkey Odious]

Has anyone else noticed that the term “Altoid Tin” has become PC size reference for what used to be “a pack of cigarettes”?

[cyclotic]

I’m a coach on a FIRST Robotics Team. Our programmer is using one of these on our bot this year for some of sensors and cameras. I’m not sure exactly what for, I mentor the mechanical part of the robot.

Here’s our team website. http://frc3941.techbrick.com/ Personal and corporate sponsorship opportunities are available and sorely needed. PM me if you’re interested.

[Dr. Sivana]

They shouldn’t call that a mini-computer. A PDP-11 is a mini-computer. This should be called a mini PC, perhaps.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[USAF80]

Can’t put components in a pack of smokes though. The Altoids tins can be used for lots of different projects thats why the refer to it. I use them as survival kits. Crush proof and perfect for carrying in a pocket.

[Errant]

Just flashed an SD card with OpenELEC (version os XBMC) and playing John Willam’s Jurassic Park on to massive speakers - AWESOME!!

[zeugma]

They shouldn’t call that a mini-computer. A PDP-11 is a mini-computer. This should be called a mini PC, perhaps.

A PDP-11 is a bit bigger than a RPi. Probably not as fast either.

[SgtHooper]

Or a little bit smaller than an ounce of pot.

[Dr. Sivana]

A PDP-11 is a bit bigger than a RPi. Probably not as fast either.

Yes, and a Compaq 386 is also bigger and slower than an RPi, but it is a MICRO-computer. The problem is that in terms of computer scale, MINI is actually on the large size. Even the body of the article refers to the RPI as a microcomputer. You might also call it a mini-microcomputer, but the term minicomputer is taken.

[Errant]

[douginthearmy]

I have 3. I’m ordering more soon. Using one to build my Master’s capstone project.

[douginthearmy]

I think the Altoid tin is a Brit reference. The Pi is made in the UK. Very few Americans say “tin” even when refering to a small metal box.

[MMaschin]

I have a hdhomerun prime, and am currently using Windows Media Center. I have media center extenders in the garage, and on the outside patio. I’m hoping to replace the extenders with Raspberry Pi based htpc’s in the future.

Hdhomerun has now updated their prime’s to act as DLNA servers. I’ve looked at using XBMC on the Rpi, but until there is a PVR addin with DTCP-IP support, it’s not worth replacing the extenders.

[Errant]

Just booted the RPi for the first time with OpenELEC. Pretty impressive for such a small package; in learning in mode now. :)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

what is OpenELEC?

[Errant]

"Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center, or OpenELEC for short, is a small Linux distribution built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a complete XBMC media center. OpenELEC is designed to make your system boot as fast as possible and the install is so easy that anyone can turn a blank PC into a media machine in less than 15 minutes."

http://openelec.tv/

Available for a number of platforms, including RPi.