GeekingOutWithRaspberryPi2012
Introduction/Definition/etc
RaspberryPi.org developed a small low cost computer like the
OneLaptopPerChild XO ( http://Laptop.org ). It was very popular,
with the now typical hype and overwhelming web servers to order
the first batches. Having gotten in line, months ago, and finally
got one, thought I'd report (not full journalistic reporting, as I'd
like some time to spend on the machine), but something for those
who may not be as geeky...
Body
Ordering
Simply a nightmare, advanced press created problems, provisioning was lacking,
and well it was popular, new toys usually are...
Scalping, profiterring and other nastiness seemed like the case...
$25 base model, $35 with Ethernet and more memory, etc,
but Shipping and Handling was $15, take it or leave it,
we are so popular/ in demand, that's all we can do...
Not the social aims of poverty, much less combining for reducing
shipping and handling, can't buy many, as there was a 1 unit
limit, which the web ordering didn't say...
HurryUpAndWait
Anyone in the public system is probably already familiar with this,
the line is over there, wait for it, and you may not get it,
Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, are the normal emotions,
though some are not creating fear, it's already there,
Doubt it will happen, ever get to the front of the line,
WaitingForGodot and many other instances...
And what will it really be like, as nobody but the people
creating the hype have it to really tell, Consumer Reports
where are you when we need you?
WrestleShipper
Almost had to wrestle the shipping person for the package,
they denied they had it, and not easy to tell how it was
going to get there, much less when. There ought to be a law,
I'm sure there are many, but don't seem to apply to the Poor,
In The Projects...
Setup
So it has a HDMI port instead of VGA,
the next big thing, I guess, I don't have an HDMI
monitor, only converter boxes for HDTV, when that happened
years ago, subsidized options were available if one kept the ears
to the ground, but that required antennae too, so maybe just pay
through the nose for cable like everyone else...
Only Basic, Mad Men is not something you've ever seen...
Hmmmm.... Poverty is low tech, and nasty...
But what is the choice?
OK, it also takes Composite RCA connector, some old TVs have
that, we are now into the old Timex Sinclair and Atari age, for those that
are old enough to remember, or history buffs that look it up...
I had neither, but did build a HeathKit ETA 100 Electronics Trainer
after dropping out of working at a medical school lab...
As personal completion for Computer Engineering,
was my intended Major, though didn't get the 3.5 GPA
required to get in, rolling admissions
and procrastination is a Bitch, as a life course...
So Electrical Engineering, and more Computer Science...
Eventually finishing elsewhere, adding Clinical Psych,
Java was advanced and not taught where I was
much less the advanced research types stuff
I'd been doing at work...
RPi's Input power is Micro USB, in the 700 mA to 1 Amp range,
(depending upon graphics and peripheral use)
higher than a computer's USB port will put out,
and only some chargers like for Apple's iPads/ iPhones/ etc
not many USB hubs even list the port's much less
wall wart power output...
(will eventually be it's own page)
MicroUSB is not something I have much of,
only a BioLogic ReeCharge iPhone case uses that, and the plug just
broke out (goes to a bike dynohub generator, power on the go,
for commuting and touring, generated by pedaling, When It Works,
at least for me rarely if at all, first headlights, and burn them out,
conditioned / regulated power, rare odd connectors and
mounting the light on the front of a bike frame, old style megaphone type
shape doesn't work on my beater fork, new style doesn't work,
handle bar mounts cheap plastic breaks like Garmin clips,
$20-30/ to replace... you can probably see where I'm going with this...
SDCards
Not MicroSD cards, the adaptered and other sizes don't work, they say,
I haven't tried, all the photography/ video and don't have any new or spares handy,
(remember poor), filled or wrong type. Classes 4 or expensive and rare Class 10,
or basic unclassed, no name, which they say used Brand Named
cards... You are replacing a hard drive with a memory card,
so might loose all data, which I've been doing for a few months,
learning the hard way SD is not SSD (Solid State Drive) despite
with newbook EeePC. Other geeks persistent statements to the contrary,
Wear Leveling (like bad blocks), yes the read writes are limited in number
on electronics of this sort, so part of why (rumored) the OLPC took longer to come out,
and most commerical SSD drives have special controllers/ adapters and other stuff,
and are high cost, and low availability (in stores), who knows on line,
see above about WrestlingShipping issues....
Bootup
Worried about the board and electrostaticly damaging the precious
new toy, no cases available except 3DPrinted versions,
more on that geekery later...
But make due with the shipping box, enough plugs in all directions
to hold it up off it's board, but worried about stepping on it,
knocking the other RCA connectors into it,
wash hands after bathroom/ snacks (remember to eat?), etc...
I can't really read the screen, low character resolution, multiple
RGB screen points / character blurring, and tinted, but did
see a red graphic of a Raspberry logo to start, all sorts of Linux
screen output, and Fedora Core 14 Remix would resize the partitions
for you, but doing it blind, you wonder what is taking so long,
get the right input channel, no reset button on the board,
like some kits and microcontrollers ( Arduino.cc ?)
BeagleBoard, Arm Cortex and other development boards
might have, so all the addons and accessories market is
probably gearing up, all dependent on huge quantities of small
relatively inexpensive BroadCom boards coming out,
they are not as OpenHardware as I would like the specifications
have slowly come out, Richard M Stallman of FreeSofrwareFoundation
fame would balk, as do many purists, but some of us poor
don't have a choice, if we want a computer,
and OLPC XO are not commercially available,
or underpowered, these are the types of things that we get, or Want,
if we hear about it, can afford it (even if we can't,
food is now a problem poor moi, toys and other activities took precedence,
unknown payment times, and other personal issues I don't want to get into ),
So I'm still, after a day of mucking with it, trying to get past login,
it boots, consistently displays something, but my one USB keyboard
( misses essential characters like 'a' in Raspberry Pi one of the passwords,
and others want my toys, or are jealous, I'm rarely the one with the toys
the employed and other geeky professionals have,
usually have something interesting in the human services
and disability communities (this site was part of a Web component
of Mental Health Recovery, but whined so much about other stuff,
even O'Reilly Publishers didn't want me in as Media in eGov Con...
humpht)
Here in the market for inexpensive, though seems to be well made,
SMT board and other high tech (chip on chip memory on Top Of GPU)
makes it not solderable as a kit at home nor easily serviceable/ repairable,
MultiMedia
Video
MOV036.ffmpeg.mpg
MOV037.ffmpeg.mpg
MOV046.ffmpeg.mpg
MOV047.ffmpeg.mpg
Stills
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ShortAnswer
I'm glad I have it, it will help me learn some things, already has,
all the new tech and peripherals necessary to run it,
dd command in Linux, risks wiping out your hard drive
if you do the wrong device, GUIs are spotty based on OS choice,
RPi runs Linux in various varieties/ distros (Arch, Debian, Fedora, QtOnPi),
but they are still in the early stages, ARM based processor kernels
and tools are in infancy, as are touch screen and other portable output
and input, AdaFruit.com's MicroTouch and presumably other SparkFun.com
EvilGenius or wherever suppliers, Radio$hack started carrying
Arduinos now that they have been out for years,
and DARPA is involved in MakerSpaces training
High Schools and other places (see RadioShack PR),
I guess the Arms race has reached Sputnik levels again,
shortage of tech, and math and science, nerds
(the N word, from back in my day),
Geek is Sheik (green $ always probably was,
except maybe 1960''s torn jeans, etc)
WhatYaGunnaDoWidIt
Translated: What Are You Going To Do With It?
My plans are learning,
some bike projects
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/DynoHubSolarPowerCombo ,
and whatever else comes along,
it combines a lot of interests of mine,
low cost, portable, low power, educational,
assistive, empowerment, and geekery,
most geeks probably think I'm not,
baggy is usually having all the stuff,
but not enough to be at risk,
dropping, losing or breaking, it's a material
world, and I'm a material guy, just poor, that's all...
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
Learning curve is steep...
Requires lots of accessories the poor won't have already,
but stimulates the creativity and economy, right?
Fun, at least to me...
So Why Not? (tm)
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
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20120424 Jerry
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