A couple years ago in a computer class I was taking at the Community College, we had an assignment to design a customized computer, including all of the individual components. The main requirements were to keep it under $1,000, Ensure the parts were all compatible (and complete), and describe a use for that particular configuration.
From listening to other students, I figured most of the other students would be working out how to build as much power into the computer as possible, either for processing or graphics power. Some students started working on designing a system to keep it economic but still useful. I decided to see how small I could make it.
Having built computers multiple times in the past, it was easy to make a list of all the needed components. It wasn’t so easy, though, to figure out how to fit them all inside a Fosters can (my chosen “Case”. After lots of research online, I found some small motherboards that had a lot of components pre-installed (such as the CPU and Memory). Starting at around $250 that was ¼ of my budget. I continued putting together a list of all the parts I needed and got up to my $1,000 budget pretty quick. After cutting a few corners, I managed to get it to the required price range. All of the components were there and they all worked together. Most of all, they would all fit inside my “Case”.
When the assignment was due, one-by-one we went to the front of the class to give our presentations. As expected, there were many “high-end” systems, several economic systems and a few with mis-matched components that would never work together. When it was my turn, (and with the reluctance of the professor as I walked up with a Fosters can) I started with “Here’s my case. All this will fit in here”. Even the professor was intrigued by how how small a custom computer could be. I gave my presentation, showing everyone how it all worked. Student after student came up with ideas of what they could do with such a small computer.
Some of the best ideas were:
- Use it as a media player in your living room, built into a cool case.
- Build a tiny computer to put into your car.
- Tiny computer to put in the kitchen without getting in the way.
- Highly customized computer that would allow you to incorporate computer functionality pretty much anywhere you need it.
Moving forward a couple years, late last year I ran across a video online announcing the Raspberry Pi. I was awestruck. That little computer would have made my little computer project much more inexpensive and even smaller since more components are built-in, such as the SD card reader for expandable storage. I was also impressed at how little power it needs to operate.
Now, I’ve taken several classes in programming – mainly C++ and Objective C. We studied programming with large desktop computers running Microsoft Visual Studio. It worked just fine but looking at the Raspberry Pi, I think that would have been an awesome platform to learn programming on. It would help to keep the learning environment simple and more transparent. It’s too bad these weren’t available when I was a kid. That would have definitely increased my interest in programming and mathematics. I eventually came around, but it would have been nice to have that tool when I was just starting out, trying to figure out what to do with my life.
I must admit, when I did that assignment and designed a tiny computer, I was very tempted to save up some money and put one together. It was just too much money though so I refrained. Now that the Raspberry Pi puts it within anyone’s reach for only $35, I’ll definitely be putting myself in the “virtual line” to get one (or two…) as soon as more stock arrives from the manufacturer. I can think of about a dozen uses for these little guys.
While I can’t give my personal experience with the Raspberry Pi until I get one of my own to play with, I can say that all the research I’ve done on them so far all points to a high-quality, well designed product. One that is suitable for young students just getting their first taste of programming, to College Seniors working on their Senior Project, to your average Joe wanting to put a computer somewhere you couldn’t put one before (or at least not as elegantly).
The best news of all – Raspberry Pi computers are now shipping! While availability is still a bit limited, production will begin to ramp up and there will be enough to go around. Place your order today!
R.R.