Elmwood no more, long live Elmwood! Elmwood Electronics and PiShop are now together!
Please order via PiShop.ca, as we are no longer taking orders through this site.
More details are in our blog!
A new regular Blog series.
Featuring quick overviews of the various platforms Elmwood offers.
Product : RaspberryPi
Current model: 3b+
{ speed similar to Apple A8* chip with integrated wifi }
Previous models:
rPi1B, A, B+, A+, rPi2, zero, W, WH, 3
Out of the Box :
Intended Use :
Learning computers without destroying Mom or Dads MacbookPro.
There are many amazing pre-installed tools such as Scratch, Python and Mathematica, that can grow with you as you learn & skills increase.
Not really a full desktop replacement, but think of it as a versatile family learning environment.
Or a hackable smartphone circuit board (with no built in screen or calling ability).
Also if you can fit it, someone has put a Raspberry Pi in it.
Or, if you have an advanced project in mind:
Full list of operating system choices.
Performance :
For LEARNING computing, rPi it is an excellent platform.
Using a web browser on anything less than a 3b is a patience building exercise.
For the detail oriented, generic 'by component' comparison
| Raspberry Pi 3B | x86 PC Equivalent | Year |
| 4-core ARMv8 | Intel E5300 | 2007 |
| 1GB RAM | Pentium III | 2003 |
| 480 mbit USB | PCI33 | 1993 |
| VC4 GPU | Radeon HD4350 | 2008 |
* chart from this forum discussion
* Processors are never really directly comparable, but for the daring...
Hackery :
If you are anti-monitor can TTL into the PI via a simple USB/TTL cable
Overclocking is possible on some models.
Heat Sinks available here.
Good generic platform for about anything you can imagine.
If you want to prototype for mass production later, start with Arduino.
Next week :
The British Invasion, Micro:BIT !