{"id":67,"date":"2020-11-09T09:57:31","date_gmt":"2020-11-09T09:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/picockpit.com\/raspberry-pi\/?p=67"},"modified":"2023-08-30T11:03:20","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T11:03:20","slug":"what-is-a-raspberry-pi-and-what-can-i-do-with-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picockpit.com\/raspberry-pi\/what-is-a-raspberry-pi-and-what-can-i-do-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Raspberry Pi and what can I do with it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Raspberry Pi is a small, credit-card sized computer. It has many functions and interfaces which you know and recognize from “bigger computers” like Dell desktop computers or Lenovo notebooks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can run many software applications on it, like a web browser (Chromium which is similar to Google Chrome), spreadsheets (LibreOffice Calc, which is, again, similar to Microsoft Excel). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also has some special features, most notably the “GPIO port”, which everyday computers do not have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog post, we’ll explain in detail what a Raspberry Pi is, and how to use it. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Raspberry<\/a>
As an example, here is the Raspberry Pi 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Raspberry Pi is a family of computers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The picture above shows one of the currently most popular models, the Raspberry Pi Model 4 B<\/a>. The individual “Raspi” family members have, as is usual with families, many similarities but also traits of their own. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most of the software which you can get for a Raspberry Pi, and how-tos for projects work with all Raspberry Pis. For good performance, however, you might want to choose one of the newer members of the family, like the Raspberry Pi 3B+<\/a> or the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginners might even want to choose the new Raspberry Pi 400<\/a>, which integrates a keyboard into the case, and reminds many people of the C64 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The family members, as one would expect, look different. One of the smallest family members is the Zero W, and one of the biggest (and newest) the 400.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Raspberry
Raspberry Pi Zero W, the $10 computer and one of the smallest Raspberry Pis (compare the size of the HDMI port and the microUSB ports!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Raspberry<\/a>
The Raspberry Pi 400, showing the ports on the back. It is the biggest currently available model, integrating a keyboard into the case.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You can see a list of all currently available family members in our sister shop page, buyzero.de<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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List of Raspberry Pi products<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

But, what is a Raspberry Pi? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Raspberry Pi is a computer in a single-board <\/strong>format. This means, that all its components are integrated on a single PCB (printed circuit board). The Raspberry Pi is the most popular computer in this format, there are also some others (for example the BeagleBone Black<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most things are scaled down and compressed in a Raspberry Pi. For example, instead of a hard drive (or SSD), it uses a microSD card to store it’s files, applications and operating system:<\/p>\n\n\n

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The SD card slot can be seen on the right – it is usually located on the back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It does have many of the popular interfaces you will recognize from desktop computers and laptops:<\/p>\n\n\n\n