Well, the rPi foundation designed that computer to make a low cost, low-power alternative for computer science students, but it is a pretty sweet computer for other purposes.  Depends on what you mean by "it's meant to do this or that." 

In this case, I've been hearing people(quite a few actually) talk about using the rpis as desktop replacements for teaching at-risk youth and adults, but this discussion will probably come up again.  

Actually, the real cost is in the monitor, and if we could figure out how to plug an rpi into a laptop monitor, and build a simple case, we'd have a recipe for a pretty sweet machine that can do all kinds of things. and it would have a pretty unholy battery life. 

-Rusty



On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 2:16 PM, Andrew <andrew@roshambomedia.com> wrote:
Laptops can't open doors. Raspis are supposed to be for single use, like set it and forget it, not a laptop replacement. In addition, laptops don't have GPIO pins. so you'd have to add $30 to the price to add on an Arduino for that. Rarely are you supposed to need a monitor for your Raspi. 

I have the agree with the comments on this arrticle, The article is written by someone who really doesn't understand why someone would want to buy a raspi, (hint, it's not for desktop replacement).

--Andrew


On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 1:49 PM, rusty lindgren <rustylindgren@gmail.com> wrote:
+ monitor though... thinkpads can be had with an hd monitor, and you don't have to lug a monitor around. 

Otherwise, I agree... I think just in terms of scalaing for use in the space.

-Rusty


On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 1:38 PM, Hol Gaskill <hol@gaskill.com> wrote:
I agree that the RPi is not all it's cracked up to be, especially with beagleboard black coming out now.  I have to take issue with the guy's pricing though.

Here's a simple setup if you already have a monitor, usb mouse, usb keyboard, minimum 700mA micro usb power, and ethernet cable handy...which would be anyone rummaging through sudo storage:

micro sd card with adapter $7
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-microSDHC-Memory-SDC4-8GB/dp/B001CQT0X4/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1367353380&sr=1-7&keywords=8gb+sd

HDMI-DVI video adapter $4
http://www.amazon.com/Eforcity-Black-Meter-HDMI-Cable/dp/B000E8SY5Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1367353318&sr=8-5&keywords=hdmi+dvi

GPIO breakout to breadboard $8
http://www.adafruit.com/products/914

optional wifi dongle $10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315091&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Wireless+Adapters-_-N82E16833315091&gclid=CKGF4qud87YCFWRyQgod4UEAKg

So assuming you have some of the more common (read: free to the resourceful) stuff at hand, we're talking the cost of the pi plus about $20-$30 for extra peripherals, $7 for the SD card if you want to just leave it embedded in a project sans terminal and use jumpers for the GPIO pins, which is not an option with a laptop unless you have a parallel port and plenty of patience.  I got a VESA mount for my old pi since it has no mounting holes, but the new ones can mount with some #6 screws and nuts...or nails for that matter...or duct tape.  Who needs cases anyway?  But I agree 100% that the performance can never replace a laptop or desktop for casual use.  I just wish I were better with the nuts and bolts of linux so I could really get in there and screw things up, but all in good time...

Hol


Apr 30, 2013 11:31:49 AM, rustylindgren@gmail.com wrote:
Seems obvious, but I don't think people realize how cheap we can get thinkpads... thinkpads also last a long time, using superior electronics components,hinges and other hardware.  
>http://www.extremetech.com/computing/148482-the-true-cost-of-a-raspberry-pi-is-more-than-you-think


>If anyone wants to know how to buy thinkpads, I'm willing to sit down with people and find them cheap computers for hacking.
>
>--
>Cheers,


>Rusty Lindgren
>
>
>


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Cheers,

Rusty Lindgren





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Cheers,

Rusty Lindgren