The Raspberry Pi 3

[LHutton]

For some reason everyone seems to be talking about this.

http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/tech-news/meet-the-best-selling-uk-computer-that-costs-just-30-11364043507392



A faster model of the “best-selling UK computer ever” has been released at a cost of £30.

The Raspberry Pi 3 has been launched, containing a 64-bit processor to make its performance 50% better than the previous model, to celebrate the company’s fourth birthday.

The credit card-sized gadget has built-in wi-fi and Bluetooth which enable users to link their devices, such as smartphones and tablets, together in a single hub.

http://home.bt.com/images/meet-the-best-selling-uk-computer-that-costs-just-30-136404350734803901-160229173053.jpg

[Kchrpm]

It makes it much easier to automate things in projects. It's a cheap, simple computer with a known programming language. The more capabilities/functionality you add to it, the greater the possibilities.

Some Raspberry Pi examples:
http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/21862/raspberry-pi-top-20-projects-to-try-yourself
http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-Projects/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2895874/10-insanely-innovative-incredibly-cool-raspberry-pi-projects.html
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/25-fun-things-to-do-with-a-raspberry-pi/

[thesameguy]

My nephew and step nephew (?) are learning on Arduino but both are really exciting about "graduating" to Pi. I see all the neat stuff people do and am jealous - but I'm just not sure what sort of role this type of computer would play in my life. I think I'm too pragmatic and just not into cool for cool's sake enough to do cool shit with inexpensive computers. :)

[LHutton]

I'm thinking how piss easy my final year project would have been with something like this. With 64-bit compute and that much RAM it wouldn't even be the same project any more.

[Mr Wonder]

I have a Pi2 running RetroPie (http://blog.petrockblock.com/) connected to my TV. Its tiny size plus bluetooth joypads mean a tiny footprint for old school gaming.
It handles anything up to snes/megadrive with aplomb, most N64/PSX games run with some slowdown in places. The extra power in the Pi3 should sort that out.

It's not plug and play and has caused some headaches, mostly surrounding my love hate relationship with 8Bitdo controllers, but I thoroughly recommend one.

[LHutton]

You've just reminded me that I miss my emulators from my old PC.

[FaultyMario]

Thinking it could be a good idea to get B. hooked on computing by gifting him (buidling with) a raspberry computer.

Basically a RetroArch emulator witgh which he can also surf the web... whadaya think?

[FaultyMario]

Found a >$200 HP mini PC... So we're going to go the partition route... Half Win10, half Debian 10.

[Yw-slayer]

Sounds good.