A Raspberry Pi computer can do a little of everything, including keeping you occupied if you need a new project (or distraction). This teeny-tiny computer not only clocks in at a low price, but could potentially help you trim costs by becoming a DIY router. Saving money is appealing: A recent CNET survey showed that internet costs spiked for 63% of US adults last year.
When our budgets are tight, having a device that can cover the gamut is appealing, from hosting your home internet to providing a platform for your next gaming experience. What was once a simple tool for teaching students about computers has become a fun tech experience for computer lovers everywhere. Not familiar with a Raspberry Pi computer? Let's take a closer look at these pocket-sized machines.
What is a Raspberry Pi computer?
Raspberry Pi is a tiny, inexpensive computer about the size of a credit card. It was initially developed in the UK to teach school kids about computer science. As the single-board computer has become more popular over the years, people have used it for various projects. It has evolved into newer, better versions with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities, and its price has kept falling.
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Raspberry Pi computers don’t have hard drives — they don’t have much at all — but this is why they're great starting points for people who want a project. They have ports so you can plug in a monitor and keyboard, as well as a microSD card, and once you’ve installed an operating system, you can use the Raspberry Pi as a full-fledged desktop computer.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the most recent iteration, with a 16GB model that launched in January. It has a 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A76 CPU and a VideoCore VII GPU, a significant upgrade from the Pi 4. It’s also available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB, with prices from $50 to $120. The Raspberry Pi Zero is the most minimal model, retailing for only a few dollars. While it can still run many of the same functions as the other Pis, it doesn’t run nearly as smoothly (or as quickly) as the ones with more RAM.
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What is Raspberry Pi mostly used for?
Raspberry Pi isn’t most people’s first choice for a desktop computer. You're most likely getting this computer if you want to tinker with it or have another project in mind. However, Raspberry Pi can function as your primary computer. Popular ways people use their Raspberry Pi include as gaming consoles, running their smart devices and as internet routers. In terms of gaming, one option is to configure your Pi for throwback games with RetroPie, an open-source software that works with any Raspberry Pi.
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