Topic: Raspberry Pi An ARM/GNU Linux box for $25

[markcd]

I know this thing was £25, and all criticisms have to be taken with that in mind - but I'm struggling to understand how the hardware is so picky about SD cards. They need to have it properly SD compliant, or their target market (kids) will get bored of it pretty quickly, imho.

I've just got the RASPMBC build to work, but it took me a couple of hours of arsing around. Now it is working, it works fine. I'm just scared to turn it off, in case I start getting all the SD card time-out errors that plagued me this morning.

I've checked 720p videos and they work great. Now I'm going for iPlayer, 4OD and the other add-ons. I may be some time....

[WorldChampions]

Any update from people that have their hands on one? Just got a txt saying mine has just been delivered...

[Bushy]

I've got one on order but it's not due till middle of july

[Jimmy Conway]

Mine arrived. DOA. Doh

[redbyrdz]

I've found out that the micro USB cable i have has a buggered plug. So can't power the Pi. Bought a new one, but it's not here yet:

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I've found out that the micro USB cable i have has a buggered plug. So can't power the Pi. Bought a new one, but it's not here yet:

You can actually power it via the IO breakout pins if you are desperate and want to cut off your buggered connector and solder the bare wires to the board.

[SP]

I've found out that the micro USB cable i have has a buggered plug. So can't power the Pi. Bought a new one, but it's not here yet:

Do you have a kindle? You can use the power lead for that...

[markcd]

Any update from people that have their hands on one? Just got a txt saying mine has just been delivered...

For what it is - it's very good. The problem I had was that my expectation was that it's a consumer friendly plug-and-play device, like everything else I buy, and it really isn't. If you accept that it is a beta board of a hobbyist gadget, then you'll be fine.... I thought that I'd have this thing up and running in 10 minutes, which was wildly unrealistic, but that was my fault, not the fault of the Pi.

[JasonF]

Mine turned up today, not really done anything with it yet though, just plugged it into my HTC charger to see if it lit up (it did), can't really do much more till I get an SD card.

Anyone seen any good deals on SD cards that are definitely compatible with the Pi? I've read it's quite fussy.

[markcd]

It is quite fussy - but there's a Wiki where they're maintaining a list of compatible stuff:

http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals

[redbyrdz]

You can actually power it via the IO breakout pins if you are desperate and want to cut off your buggered connector and solder the bare wires to the board.

Not a bad idea, but I'm not that desperate! The cable has turned up now, but so has the work stuff I'm actually supposed to do.

Do you have a kindle? You can use the power lead for that...

Nope - I haven't got anything else that uses micro usb. But cheers.

[markcd]

just a quick update after owning it for a couple of weeks.

They have released another version of XBMC, and it works great. Im using iPhone / iPad XBMC Commander app for my phone, and it works perfectly. It even supports Apple Airplay. Haven't used the Debian build at all after getting it working, as the browser it way too slow to do anything with, so it'll probably stay as an XBMC box until I get some more time to screw around.

[redbyrdz]

Oh, can post an update too: Our telly doesn't work with my RPi.

It seems to work fine otherwise, but I can't use it without some sort of screen.

[Lfsea]

Oh, can post an update too: Our telly doesn't work with my RPi.

It seems to work fine otherwise, but I can't use it without some sort of screen.

I found that if I plugged my Pi in to the power before I plugged in the cable, the TV wouldn't register the Pi input.

However, if I select the HDMI input on the TV and insert the HDMI cable at both ends before I power up the device, it worked.

[redbyrdz]

I found that if I plugged my Pi in to the power before I plugged in the cable, the TV wouldn't register the Pi input.

However, if I select the HDMI input on the TV and insert the HDMI cable at both ends before I power up the device, it worked.

Yeah, I saw that, but it doesn't help - it's not HDMI though. We've only got one old TV, it takes a scart cable. It works fine with the freeview box or DVD attached via scart. If I connect the Pi with a RCA/scart cable, I get no picture at all. Similar trying to use the DVD player with that cable (using the cinch connectors instead of the usual scart-to-scart), no picture. The cable seems to be ok(ish?) though, when tested with a multimeter, and it worked once with an really old telly before that telly died...

Posted on the RPi forums, and someone on there said you might need to tell the TV that it's getting a composite signal via the scart, but I can't do that because we've lost the remote long ago (and maybe the telly can't do it anyway).

Bit lost what to now, can't really afford a new screen just for the RPI. I've been swamped with other things, so the Pi project is on hold for now.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

just a quick update after owning it for a couple of weeks.

They have released another version of XBMC, and it works great. Im using iPhone / iPad XBMC Commander app for my phone, and it works perfectly. It even supports Apple Airplay. Haven't used the Debian build at all after getting it working, as the browser it way too slow to do anything with, so it'll probably stay as an XBMC box until I get some more time to screw around.

Nice one - just got a personal one now and I want to try XBMC, what are you using as an SD card for your XBMC install?

[Lfsea]

Nice one - just got a personal one now and I want to try XBMC, what are you using as an SD card for your XBMC install?

Sorry for butting in, but it seems that generic Sony SD cards work well. I've tried a couple thus far and had no problems whatsoever.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I've used TDK Class 4 cards with the Debian install with no problems, just wondered if the XBMC install needed a Class 0 card for speed and how much memory the XBMC install requires

[Lfsea]

I've used TDK Class 4 cards with the Debian install with no problems, just wondered if the XBMC install needed a Class 0 card for speed and how much memory the XBMC install requires

Ah, gotcha. You are far further ahead of the 8-ball than I am on it! It's a fascinating bit of kit. For someone like myself who has limited themselves (not deliberately) to Apple and Windows it's massive fun exploring all these 'new' avenues.

Definitely going to acquire a couple more of these when I can, as long as I can find a browser fast enough.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

The bit I am loving is the OS on SD idea.  Basically you swap SD cards and it is a different machine?

Linux based web on your TV
XBMC streaming media hub
etc etc

[redbyrdz]

The bit I am loving is the OS on SD idea.  Basically you swap SD cards and it is a different machine?

Linux based web on your TV
XBMC streaming media hub
etc etc

Can't you do the same with any (newer) computer, by booting of some usb device? USB stick or external HD? Or just have different options in your boot loader...

I've used TDK Class 4 cards with the Debian install with no problems, just wondered if the XBMC install needed a Class 0 card for speed and how much memory the XBMC install requires

Maybe my memory is wrong here,  but I think i read a post on the RPi site saying the XMBC build was incredibly small.

For what it's worth, I think (from the blinking lights) my Pi boots ok with both a 8GB class 4 SanDisk card (the one thats in the whitelist on the wiki), and a 2GB Texet card of unknown further specifications (one I had lying around).

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

You can, but it's that versatility allied to the portability that is the killer.  You know you could have one running some in car entertainment system, working on your TV and as the controller for some sort of autonomous vehicle.  All using the same device just plugging in another SD and connecting the board into another set of peripherals.

Not that you can't just get three of the blighters at £25 each!

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

It's interesting where it is taking the market as well.  I notice that Via Tech have got a rival coming out soon.... the APC and there is a little chinese thingy the RikoMagic coming out soon which is clearly aimed specifically at the media streaming side of things.

[Lfsea]

By the way, would anyone happen to know of a better hard case for the Pi than this:



I'm very tempted to make the Lego case, but at the age of 30, I think it might harm my career progression chances with some of my fun-police peers.

[redbyrdz]

You can, but it's that versatility allied to the portability that is the killer.  You know you could have one running some in car entertainment system, working on your TV and as the controller for some sort of autonomous vehicle.  All using the same device just plugging in another SD and connecting the board into another set of peripherals.

Not that you can't just get three of the blighters at £25 each!

Yeah, I know what you mean. It also appeals very much to the geek inside me to pull a couple of cables, the pi and some peripherals out of a shoe box, and do various high-level tasks with it.


Need to get it to work first though...

[redbyrdz]

By the way, would anyone happen to know of a better hard case for the Pi than this:

I'm very tempted to make the Lego case, but at the age of 30, I think it might harm my career progression chances with some of my fun-police peers.

So far, mine lives in a cream cheese box. The tubs fresh cream comes in don't fit.

That case looks alright, though I'd defo want something clear, so you can see the board. Somehow, part of the appeal for me is the raw look. I'd only want a case to protect it a bit better.


Also, there's a stat out there somewhere that most of the lego sold don't end up in a kids room - you'd defo not be the only adult to build something with lego.

[Lfsea]

So far, mine lives in a cream cheese box. The tubs fresh cream comes in don't fit.

That case looks alright, though I'd defo want something clear, so you can see the board. Somehow, part of the appeal for me is the raw look. I'd only want a case to protect it a bit better.

This one's for my mum. I'm replacing her laptop with a Pi rather than her spending £400 on a laptop where she will literally just use the internet function. She loves it, but she'll undoubtedly drop it or spill tea on it.

[SP]

By the way, would anyone happen to know of a better hard case for the Pi than this:

I have one of these:



Does the job. Sides are open though, but it is not an issue for me...

[Lfsea]

I have one of these:



Does the job. Sides are open though, but it is not an issue for me...

I ended up purchasing this in the end, as it was so pretty (a ridiculous term, I know):

[markcd]

Nice one - just got a personal one now and I want to try XBMC, what are you using as an SD card for your XBMC install?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000VX6XL6/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

It's class 4, and was £2.80 - so not very high spec. I'm using a 1Gb image, and haven't tried re-partitioning. I guess the only other XBMC issue is the lack of MPEG2 support, so all my old 'specialist' videos don't play.

[SP]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000VX6XL6/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

It's class 4, and was £2.80 - so not very high spec. I'm using a 1Gb image, and haven't tried re-partitioning. I guess the only other XBMC issue is the lack of MPEG2 support, so all my old 'specialist' videos don't play.

WinFF is nice.

[Liverlee]

Didnt realise until tonight you could use an ipad/iphone/android device as a remote control for XBMC on these.

[vNauuuM]

Ordered it £25!! and also bought starter pack on ebay for £20 - Just waiting for delivery

[GiorgosCarraGoonies]

Do these things support browsers with flash capability?  If I was able to stream footy and things on it, I'd be tempted to buy one.

(I'm tempted anyway, to be fair).

[Kashinoda]

Don't suppose anyone here has a Pi and a sub to FSS?

I'm wondering how good the plugin is http://www.xbmchub.com/forums/mortstars-repository/201-flashsportstreams-official-release-thread.html

Do these things support browsers with flash capability?  If I was able to stream footy and things on it, I'd be tempted to buy one.

(I'm tempted anyway, to be fair).

See above 

[BIGdavalad]

Would you be able to run utorrent on one of these?

[SP]

Would you be able to run utorrent on one of these?

You can get Debian Linux on it. You can get utorrent for Debian. So yes you could set up a bittorrent client using one of these. 

As the botteneck is usually I/O it should reasonably.

[Smudgester]

Ordered it £25!! and also bought starter pack on ebay for £20 - Just waiting for delivery

Isn't that a minimum of 5 weeks for the Pi ? And, when I looked the other night, the other UK distributor quoting a lead time of 18 weeks !!!!

Put my order in this morning; hopefully it should be a lot better as a media center compared to my current solution of WiiMC on the Wii

[Kashinoda]

go on avforums.co.uk

Can pick them up on there for £30-35, I do believe they have a policy on there which prevents people selling massively above RRP like you'd get on eBay.

Example:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/archived-complete-expired-adverts/1659896-sale-raspberry-pi-model-b.html

[WorldChampions]

Got mine running Xbian 0.4 (XBMC) and it plays from external hdd and usb perfectly. I'm still waiting for broadband at mine so not tried nfs/samba yet but so far so good! It will be perfect once I can download the plugins for 4od etc