It has been in release only a few weeks, but already the Raspberry Pi Zero is making waves in the DIY community. Why? It’s a fully capable computer. You power it via a micro-USB port – the same as your Android phone – and it has a micro-HDMI port so you can hook up a monitor, and another USB port you can plug a hub into so you can add other things, like a mouse and keyboard, and a Wi-Fi adapter – and it boots from a micro-SD card.
Two important things set it apart from its predecessors, which were already ground-breaking technology:
It’s faster than the original Raspberry Pi, so it’s strong enough to run as an actual workstation doing things like watching movies, word processing, running Minecraft server, and posting to Facebook. Here are the vital statistics:
There are a few caveats:
If you want it these capabilities, though, and you’re handy with a soldering iron, the hacker community has already solved all these problems.
Why would you want to do this when you can buy a Raspberry Pi 2 for $25? The form factor might be the deciding factor. If the Raspberry Pi Zero isn’t the tiniest single board computer there is, it’s pretty close – and it’s the smallest one at that size that gives you access to a general purpose interface for hooking up your own special modifications. This computer is small enough to easily fit inside the helmet of your Iron Man cosplay – and it’s cheap enough that you could even have one computer in each gauntlet and connect them to one another via your own personal Wi-Fi network.
There is this great magazine dedicated to Raspberry Pi do-it-yourself-ers, and while a three month subscription to it is $37.50, the first issue comes with a Raspberry Pi Zero right on the cover.
It is available today in the UK from The Pi Hut and Pimoroni, and in the US from Adafruit and in-store at your local branch of Micro Center.
The potential of these little wonders is virtually limitless. Is your brain fizzing yet?
-30-
SCIFI.radio is listener supported sci-fi geek culture radio, and operates almost exclusively via the generous contributions of our fans via our Patreon campaign. If you like, you can also use our tip jar and send us a little something to help support the many fine creatives that make this station possible.
Join host Gene Turnbow as he welcomes Gregory A. McMartin back to talk game development…
Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh is one of the recipients of this year's Presidential Medal of…
The world has leaned into May 4 as Star Wars Day, and now Lucasfilm has…
Celebrated the first Friday in May, National Space Day celebrates e extraordinary achievements, benefits, and…
This is the thrilling follow-up to 2022's Tales of the Jedi that you've been waiting…
“Boy Kills World” is a dystopian revenge story with humorous interludes, a deranged edge, and…
This website uses cookies.