Being a maker is now a new trend that is fast gaining attraction among the mainstream populace. A maker is basically someone who makes things, and this in turn branches off to many sorts of maker communities – from simple garment makers to complicated electronic maker guilds that make robots. One product that has enabled the makers to propagate the idea is the single-board computer, and it all started with the Raspberry Pi 2.
Maker Enablers
Ok I lied. It actually started with the previous generation, but the Raspberry Pi 2 was released at the point of time where the maker community and the drive to create something are high. The original Raspberry Pi enabled many to create connected devices that are more than just a simple input/output contraption. The more powerful Raspberry Pi 2 gives makers more, well, power and performance to push their boundaries even further.
Compact Performance
At the heart of the Raspberry Pi 2 is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU – the same kind of CPU that powers your smartphone. It is the Broadcom BCM2836 processor and it is paired with 1GB of RAM. All you actually need is a microSD card loaded with the OS and a power source – and you have a full-blown computer in your palm.
Expandability Prowess
The Raspberry Pi 2 features a host of connectivity options. You get four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet port, combo audio and composite video port, and a full sized HDMI port. Apart from that, it has a DSi connector port for display, a camera connector port for the Raspberry Pi Camera, and a 40-pin General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) array. This is the heart of the Raspberry Pi 2 as through these pins, the sky’s the limit for makers to create stuff around the single-board PC.
Imagination Central
If you look hard enough, there are a bunch of projects that is available online – ranging from simple home automation to complex robotic builds. We have seen projects that uses the Raspberry Pi 2 to collect weather data, to automated catfood dispenser that is connected to the internet, and all the way to an updated Gameboy build that not only plays the games on the platform, but other platforms as well.
Imagination is the limit for makers who are looking to create with the Raspberry Pi 2. With its powerful processor and expandability, just about anything can be made into an Internet of Things (IoT) device, thanks to this single-board computer.
Price: US$35
CPU: 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU Broadcom BCM2836
RAM : 1GB
Storage: microSD slot
Connectivity: 10/100 LAN
Ports: USB x 4, 15-pin MIPI camera interface (CSI) connector, HDMI, Composite video via shared 3.5mm jack
Others: 17 x General Purpose Input/Output pins, microUSB power port
Size: Raspberry Pi (85.60 mm × 56.5 mm)
Weight: 45 grams
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Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Usability: 9/10
Total Score: 9.0/10
Verdict: The board that makes everything possible for the makers
