You could buy yourself a new Mac Pro for a starting price of around $8000 . Or you could pick up about 135 new Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and make a cluster of computing awesomeness.
Or perhaps just grab one and make it the basis of a gaming system, media centre or home automation hub. At just $59.95, the latest Raspberry Pi could move from a hobbyist’s toy into the mainstream.
The new Raspberry Pi 4 Model B boasts an impressive array of features.
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Specifications
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Specifications
Size
56 x 85mm and 42g
Chipset
64 bit Broadcom 2711 ARMv8, Quad Core Cortex A72 at 1.5 GHz
Memory
1 GB, 2 GB, or 4GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Ports
2x USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 megabits per second) 2x USB 3.0 ports (up to 5 gigabits per second) 2x microHDMI ports 3.5mm 4-pole Composite Video and Audio jack Power Input USB-C type C connector DSI Display Port CSI Camera Port MicroSD card slot 40-pin GPIO (Male headers)
Audio
2x microHDMI port supports multichannel audio output and Audio line out/3.5-mm headphone jack (analog)
Storage
microSD slot
Comms
802.11ac WiFi wireless Networking;IEEE 802.11.b/g/n/ac compatible, Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet RJ-45 connector. True Gigabit Ethernet
Aside from the processor choice and lack of storage, you’d be forgiven if you thought you were looking at the spec sheet for a pretty decent PC. Which explains why it’s becoming a favourite for folks making industrial systems as well as hobbyists.
With support for its own operating systems, NOOB and Raspian , as well as a bunch of other Linux distros, it can even run an officially supported version of Windows 10, albeit only for IoT devices although it is theoretically possible to run a full version of Windows 10 .
Naturally, there's also a huge range of modules and accessories available for building DIY projects. As countless talented Raspberry Pi enthusiasts have shown, there's very little you can't create with this thing .
When the first Raspberry Pi systems were released they were very much a device for tinkerers. But someone setting up a small lab or a room full of shared computers could put something useful together for under $200 by the time you add a low-cost monitor, keyboard and mouse. Add some open source productivity software and you’ve got a workstation that’s suitable for a lot of users.
Originally published in Lifehacker Australia on 26 June 2019: https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/06/the-new-raspberry-pi-is-a-real-pc/