Countdown to Disposable Computers- the $25 linux thumb-pc, Raspberry Pi

**scott_fx** · 01-17-2012, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

for $35 for the ethernet version, it's nearly worth me learning linux over arduino code...

from what i hear linux is a LOT more difficult to learn then the more user friendly arduino.

I've been learning arduino for the last few months and it's so user friendly and fun. I don't know if im up for the challenge of linux though. I may integrate my arduino hardware with this linux computer and (hopefully) create a front end gui from processing.org that will run on this computer. I know it's not optimized. but i think it'll be a more simple approach.

**BoyRacer0013** · 01-17-2012, 04:04 PM

Are these on the market yet, I saw something about them now shipping on the website, this would make an awesome web browser and media player.

**scott_fx** · 01-17-2012, 04:17 PM

i dont think they are. i think they are in production but not shipping

**BoyRacer0013** · 01-17-2012, 04:19 PM

Okay, here is a link to the official website:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/

**soundman98** · 01-17-2012, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by scott_fx

from what i hear linux is a LOT more difficult to learn then the more user friendly arduino.

the problem with arduino is that it's language is specific to arduino, and is nearly useless in terms of other coding methods.. at least that is what i understand about it..

i played with linux a couple years ago while i was building security camera dvr's, and honestly getting a linux pc up and running with a basic configuration is no issue(surfing the web and playing video's was very painless), but to get custom software like the camera software to run correctly was a major PITA.

**scott_fx** · 01-18-2012, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

the problem with arduino is that it's language is specific to arduino, and is nearly useless in terms of other coding methods.. at least that is what i understand about it..

i played with linux a couple years ago while i was building security camera dvr's, and honestly getting a linux pc up and running with a basic configuration is no issue(surfing the web and playing video's was very painless), but to get custom software like the camera software to run correctly was a major PITA.

the benefit with arduino is the mass (helpful) community and the user friendly libraries. i dont think you'll find anything close with linux. I dont think arduino is going anywhere. there is also the arduino 'due' in development that'll use an arm processor (i believe) which should close the gap a bit.

**BoyRacer0013** · 01-20-2012, 04:44 PM

According to the video on the websites main page (the interview with Eben) the first 10,000 boards will be on the Raspberry Pi store in about 2 weeks (as of Jan. 17). And the Gertboard extender, a general purpose I/O board, sounds like it will really close the gap between the Raspberry Pi and the Arudino. The Gertboard is estimated to be in the same price range as the Raspberry Pi it self. This seems almost ideal for most car-PC installations, if it had more power, say something equivalent to the Atom CPU this would be perfect.

**scott_fx** · 01-20-2012, 04:49 PM

that would be great. for me though, it comes down to the community. i know i wouldnt be nearly as far as i am w/o the huge repository of libraries and user knowledge that the arduino has. but i do plan on getting one just to experiment with it at least!

**BoyRacer0013** · 01-20-2012, 05:11 PM

Seeing as this is being developed as a tool for teaching programming, and how inexpensive it is, I think the support will be out there, it will probably take some time to get to the level of the support the Arduino has thought. And if it doesn't work out for a car-PC you could always make a lunch box computer with it.