Two weeks ago I received a Raspberry Pi! The Raspberry Pi is a small computer based not on a “regular” Intel or AMD x86 processor, but on an ARM processor (similar to the ones used in smartphones etc.). The one I ordered is a model B (with ethernet) and 512MB RAM.

The idea behind this nifty little computer is to provide kids with a low-cost but fully functional computer with which they could start learning more about programming. I’m not sure if this goal will be widely met, but for me it worked ;-). Having this little machine (with its case it measures roughly 10 x 6 x 2.5 cm) in my hands and installing Raspbian Linux on an SD card and looking at the terminal as it booted reminded me of the times when I first played with Slackware Linux on a 486. Of course Raspbian (well, Linux in general) is much more advanced than Slackware 7.0 back in 1999/2000 but the not too stellar performance of the graphical desktop is somewhat comparable.

Apart from playing around with it I’m not sure yet what I’m going to use it for. A domotica hub? A small web sserver? Use DosBox to play old games (from even before the 486 era)? We’ll see!

By the way, I order mine on Thursday Novermber 8th and on the Tuesday after that the package landed on my doorstep. Amazing after hearing about people waiting for months for their orders to be shipped. I order mine from New IT. It probably cost a little bit more, but who cares :-).

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