Samsung Banner sticky Advertisement
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Raspberry Pi 400 is a compact keyboard with a built-in computer

Raspberry Pi 400 is a compact keyboard with a built-in computer

1st November 2020
"Just add a screen and you’ve got yourself a PC."

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the Raspberry Pi 400, a compact keyboard with an ARM-based computer built-in. Just plug it into a TV or monitor using one of its two micro HDMI ports, insert a microSD card, attach a power cord and mouse, and you’ve got yourself a basic computer for day-to-day tasks, coding, or media playback. It’s available starting today as a standalone machine for $70 or in a bundle including a mouse, power supply, microSD card, HDMI cable, and beginner’s guide for $100.

The hope is the Pi 400’s form factor, plus these optional bundled items make it more approachable and user-friendly. That’s important when you’re selling an affordable computer, and it’s especially important when you’re selling an accessible device to help children learn to code. It looks more like a piece of consumer electronics than the basis for a DIY project.

It can sit under your Christmas tree and… if you open your presents at 9 o’clock, by 10 o’clock you can be sitting in front of your television with a computer,” Raspberry Pi’s founder, Eben Upton, tells in an interview ahead of the announcement.

THE DREAM ALWAYS WITH RASPBERRY PI IS TO LURE PEOPLE INTO BUYING A PC AND THEN TRICK THEM INTO BECOMING COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS

The Raspberry Pi 400’s form factor immediately brings to mind early home computers like the BBC Micro or ZX Spectrum, and that’s no accident. Although Raspberry Pi’s small computers have become a popular tool for hobbyists to do everything from building inexpensive AirPlay receivers to automating smart homes, at their core they’re designed as accessible computers to help children learn to code.

The dream always with Raspberry Pi is to lure people into buying a PC and then trick them into becoming computer programmers,” Upton says. “That’s what happened to me, I was lured into buying a BBC Micro and then suddenly I became a software engineer.”

Aside from its keyboard and form factor, the Raspberry Pi 400 is a very similar computer to last year’s Raspberry Pi 4. It’s got a slightly faster quad-core 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, up from 1.5GHz in the Pi 4, 4GB of RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. There are a pair of micro HDMI ports that can each output up to 4K / 60Hz, two USB 3.0 ports, and a single USB 2.0 port. Power is provided via a USB-C port, there’s a microSD card slot for storage, and there’s a GPIO header for attaching a variety of more niche devices.

While the internals is similar to previous Raspberry Pi devices, the external appearance of the Pi 400 is anything but. Depending on which region you buy it in, the computer is built into either a 78- or 79-key keyboard, which has a similar design to most compact laptop keyboards. At launch, there are six different keyboard layouts — UK, US, German, French, Italian, and Spanish — and Upton tells me there are additional variants for the Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese, and Japanese markets on the way soon.
Thankfully, this isn’t Raspberry Pi’s first keyboard — it released a standard one without a computer built into it last year. I say thankfully because many of those early ‘80s home computers had absolutely awful keyboards, and producing a practice keyboard should help Raspberry Pi avoid any serious mishaps. Upton tells me the company’s approach was inspired by how PC manufacturer Acorn Computers used its standalone keyboard as a basis for the Acorn Atom computer. In fact, Upton says that keen-eyed observers would have seen hints about the Pi 400’s development hidden inside its standalone keyboard, which has a slightly unnecessary amount of empty space inside it where the Pi 400’s computer innards now sit.

It’s not just children learning to code to whom the company wants to sell Pi 400s. “Who’s it supposed to help? It’s supposed to help anyone who needs a computer,” Upton says. Interestingly, that also includes businesses, with Upton telling me that the company sees the Raspberry Pi 400 being used as corporate desktop machines or for call center agents. Interestingly, that’s one of the reasons why the Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 400 have two HDMI outputs because two monitors are the default for a lot of business users.

That said, Upton admits that the Pi 400’s pink and white color scheme won’t be to every business’s tastes. “We’re going to need to make it in gray and black and it’s going to break our hearts,” he jokes, “We make our products in pink and white and we think it’s the right color, and then we are dragged kicking and screaming to gray and black.”

It may have sounded unrealistic a few years ago to dream of an office filled with ARM-based computers when the processors were largely considered too low-power for anything beyond phones and tablets, but in a year when Apple is starting to switch its Mac computers to the architecture, that future doesn’t look so preposterous.

THE PI 400 IS MEANT FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND EVEN BUSINESSES

Upton calls Apple’s upcoming switch a “validation” of ARM’s status as a real PC architecture, and he says it’s proof that PCs aren’t synonymous with x86 processors anymore. In the longer term, he says that the change should incentivize more developers to make or optimize their software to run better on ARM and that whatever happens on macOS is likely to benefit the open-source ecosystem and eventually the Raspberry Pi.

Unless you’re willing to do some serious tweaking, the Raspberry Pi 400 is always going to be a Linux PC. That’s perfect if you’re someone looking to learn to code, but it’s still going to be an unfortunate barrier for many Windows and Mac owners who are looking for a simple machine for everyday computer tasks. For others, the kinds of web browsing, email answering, and productivity tasks that the Pi 400 is powerful enough to perform may already be served just fine by a smartphone.

But with a starting price of $70, the Raspberry Pi 400 is a lot less expensive than even the most budget handsets, and it comes with a keyboard that’s big enough to do proper writing on. For many people, and students, in particular, that could just be exactly what they need in a year when a lot of people are still working from home and in need of a computer.

The Raspberry Pi 400 is available starting today. The $100 kit is available now in the UK, US, and France, with availability in Italy, Germany, and Spain following next week. Meanwhile, the $70 standalone version is available now in the UK, US, France, and Germany, and it’s coming to Italy and Spain next week. Releases in India, Australia, and New Zealand will follow by the end of the year.

Source: Theverge


Reviews is conducting a weekly contest. Answer a simple question and get a chance to win exciting gift hampers from Aiken Care Package. Go to our Facebook page for more details or also can check the details on our Instagram page.


Also Read:

PETROL VS DIESEL CAR: 5 THINGS TO LOOK BEFORE YOU CHOOSE

GLOBAL ONLINE SMARTPHONE SALES TO REACH NEW HIGH IN COVID YEAR

TOP 5 HAIR STRAIGHTENER IN NEPAL | 2020

TOP 5 SCOOTERS UNDER 250000 IN NEPAL | PRICE AND SPECS

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE BUYING A TV

WHAT KIND OF WASHING MACHINE IS SUITABLE FOR YOU?

DARK MODE FOR GOOGLE MAPS IS HERE!

Compiled by : Swekshya Rajbhandari Swekshya Rajbhandari

Honor Hunter: gaming laptop launching on September 16

6th September 2020
"The Honor Hunter."

Honor announced that it's holding an event on September 16 in China and the start of the show would be the gaming-centric notebook - the Honor Hunter. Two new smartwatches will join the event as well.

The gaming laptop has been rumored for a while now, so it will be interesting to see how the company will expand its portfolio of notebooks whereas the smartwatches are going to be new only for China. During this year's IFA, Honor unveiled the Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES and we have a good idea of what's to come on September 16.

We hope to get some info regarding global availability for the Honor Hunter during the event too.

Source: Gsmarena

Also Read:

INTEL RELEASES NEW LAPTOP CHIPS TO CONFRONT APPLE, RISING RIVALS

DELL XPS 15 (2020), XPS 17 (2020) WITH 10TH GEN INTEL CORE PROCESSORS, UP TO 2TB STORAGE LAUNCHED

DELL INSPIRON 5593 I7 10TH GEN LAPTOP | GRAPHICS | WIN10 - SPECS AND PRICE IN NEPAL

HUAWEI TO INTRODUCE A NOTEBOOK WITH FLOATING DISPLAY

REDMI G: REDMI GAMING LAPTOP TEASER

LEGION GAMING SMARTPHONE BY LENOVO LEAKED WITH A 144HZ DISPLAY, 90W CHARGING, AND SIDE POP-UP CAMERA

Compiled by : Kiran Shah Kiran Shah

Best Gadgets of IFA 2020

6th September 2020
"Here, we present some best gadgets of IFA 2020."

IFA, that was held every year in Berlin, Germany, has not stopped showcasing the tech gadgets despite the hurdles caused by COVID-19. IFA is announcing lots of new techs via online mediums and live streams. From headphones to TVs all the tech gadgets are being showcased, as IFA always does.

There are lots of gadgets that have already entered or are about to enter the market. The best gadgets of IFA are:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

samsung-galaxy-z-fold-2

The recently unveiled Z Fold 2 that is to enter the market on September 18, 2020, is the second generation of the company's flagship folding smartphone. It is a tablet when unfolded and a phone when folded. The $2000 Z Fold 2 is not perfect, but is very impressive and doesn’t have the faults like that of the original Fold.

Samsung the Premiere Laser Projector

samsung-the-Premiere-projector

This gadget is best for the ones who want to bring the cinema experience inside their home. The Premiere is an all-new projector that uses ultra-short-throw laser technology to create an image measuring up to 130 inches. It delivers 4k Resolution and a peak brightness of 2,800 ANSI lumens. Samsung claims the Premiere projector to be the first-ever projector to support Filmmaker Mode.

Neato D10 robot vacuum cleaner

Neato-D10-robot-vacuum-cleaner

The D10, D9, and D8 automatic floor care machines will complement Neato's current models (D7, D6, and D4).
The robot vaccum cleaner features laser-guided navigation to avoid any obstacles in its path. It is best suitable for the people having sensitivities and allergies to dust or other airborne particles, as NEATO claims it to be able to clean 99.97% of allergens.

Acer Spin 7 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2

Acer-Spin-7-with-Qualcomm-Snapdragon-8cx

Acer is the first laptop to have used the just-announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 platform in its Acer Spin 7. It is a two-in-one hybrid laptop that has a 360-degree hinge to swivel from a clamshell laptop into a slate-style tablet. Acer claims "multiday" battery life for the Spin 7; however, the details about the battery and battery-life is yet to be decided. 

Asus Zenbook Flip S with Intel Tiger Lake Processors

Asus-Zenbook-Intel-Tiger-Lake

Not just Qualcomm, Intel has unveiled its latest Tiger Lake Processors and Asus has used it inside its new Zenbook Flip S. Intel claims huge boosts speed that allows the users to edit videos and play games without any disturbances. Zenbook Flip S, alike Acer Spin 7, can rotate in 360-degree and also has support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6. This laptop is in the list of the premium laptops that Asus is planning to release this year.

JBL Clip 4

JBL-Clip-4

JBL Clip 4 is another waterproof speaker for the ones who love to listen to music, in the list of Clip speakers. This model has an updated design along with an extended battery life of 10 years. The speaker has an in-built carabiner clip that helps to hang the speaker. This speaker is to enter the market in December.

Nvidia RTX 3090 graphics card

For the best gaming experience, Nvidia is planning to bring Nvidia RTX 3090 graphics card along with other cards.  The latest graphics card series promises an increased performance for 8K, 60 frames-per-second gaming, and improved ray tracing capabilities for realistic lighting and shadows.

Lenovo Yoga 9i

lenovo-yoga-9i

Like every other brand, Lenovo is also bringing a premium 2-in-1 hybrid laptop. The Lenovo Yoga 9i features a soft-touch leather-clad lid, updated keyboard and a massive touchpad that's seamlessly embedded into the glass palm rest. Intel's latest processor improved audio from the soundbar in the hinge and an improved stylus is some of the major updates on the laptop. 

LG InstaView range oven

LG-InstaView-range-oven

Wish to see your delicious food whilst cooking? Simply knock on the screen of the oven to see the food cooking inside. LG has featured this feature in its refrigerators and, now, finally, the InstaView range oven is on its way to the market. The gas or electric range ovens also have air fry modes in order to bring some crispiness in your food.

Blink wireless indoor and outdoor security cameras

blink-wireless-indoor-and-outdoor-security-cameras

Security is of great concern for everyone. And setting up security cameras can be really difficult. Considering the difficulties that the setting-up causes, Blink has brought wireless indoor and weatherproof outdoor security cameras that promise to have a battery life of 4 years. The cameras are also available in a $3-a-month subscription for cloud storage of your recorded footage.

Also Read:

ENTRY-LEVEL 5G SMARTPHONES WITH SNAPDRAGON 400 SERIES COMING IN 2021

CES 2020 INNOVATION AWARD-WINNING TECHNOLOGIES FROM SAMSUNG

GIONEE M30 WITH 10000MAH BATTERY ANNOUNCED

FOLDABLE SMARTPHONES IN NEPAL

ONEPLUS 8T RENDER LEAKS IN ANDROID 11 DEVELOPER PREVIEW

OPPO F17 PRO- SPECS, PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

TOP BUDGET SMARTPHONES WITH BEST BATTERY LIFE

Compiled by : Prativa Parajuli Prativa Parajuli

Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone Pro Transparent Edition Unveiled

29th October 2020
"Some netizens speculate that it will go on sale during the Double Eleven period"

This afternoon, during the 2020 Lenovo Innovation and Technology Conference, many new products were unveiled. At the end of the conference, Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone Pro transparent edition was announced, with part of its back cover changed to a transparent design, located in the center, where you can see the internal components, while the sides are white covers.

Officials have not announced the launch time and price of the machine, Lenovo said it will arrive soon. Some netizens speculate that it will go on sale during the Double Eleven period. Reviewing the appearance and configuration of the machine, the Legion gaming phone Pro non-shaped screen design, no gouge/water drop/bangs, is a complete screen, the front camera is located on the left side of the fuselage pop-up, very rare in the current production model.

In terms of configuration, it features a 6.65-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, and a 5,000mAh battery. Charging is one of the main highlights of the device, supporting up to 90W fast charging, officially known as the 90W Twin Turbo power system, which can fully charge a 5000mAh battery in 30 minutes. It also features a TSI Frostbite cooling system, dual X-axis linear motor, GAE gaming acceleration engine, and more.

Source: Sparrownews


Reviews is conducting a weekly contest. Answer a simple question and get a chance to win exciting gift hampers from Aiken Care Package. Go to our Facebook page for more details or also can check the details on our Instagram page.


Also Read:

ELECTRIC VEHICLES OWNERS HAVE TO PAY YEARLY TAX IN NEPAL

WOMEN IN BIG DATA DOING DATA SECURITY PROGRAM

POST COVID: DIGITAL PAYMENT BOOM IN NEPAL

WHY DOES ONE NEED LIFE INSURANCE?

WHAT MEDICAL DEVICES SHOULD I HAVE AT HOME

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PHONE'S BATTERY?

BEST AUTOMATIC CARS AVAILABLE IN NEPAL WITH PRICES

Compiled by : Swekshya Rajbhandari Swekshya Rajbhandari