After getting the long awaited Raspberry Pi board I started to google for the required equipments in order to boot-up the board:
- the Raspberry Pi board, it cost me ~40$ from the local distributor
- SD(HC) Card
- I use a 2G SD Card that I already have it (or you can buy it for ~4$ on eBay).
- USB keyboard
- I've got an USB Silicone Rubber FlexibleKeyboard for 7$ from eBay
- display adapter
- I connect my TV via RCA video port using a S-Video cable:
- I've got a RCA Composite AV Audio Video Cable for DVD DC TV for 1$ from eBay
- I connect my TV via RCA video port using a S-Video cable:
- power supply
- I use my HTC Hero AC Adapter (output 5V 1A), an USB to mini-USB cable that it happens to have it already (you can buy it for 1$ from eBay). I connected the AC adapter with the USB cable, then the mini-USB terminal to a mini to micro USB adapter converter:
- I've got an Universal Mini to Micro USB Charger Adapter Converter for 1$ from eBay
- I use my HTC Hero AC Adapter (output 5V 1A), an USB to mini-USB cable that it happens to have it already (you can buy it for 1$ from eBay). I connected the AC adapter with the USB cable, then the mini-USB terminal to a mini to micro USB adapter converter:
- for the unit case I've used a 200 x 100 x 50 mm cardboard box that wrapped some Iranian dates (yummy!) that I've bought from the local supermarket (no kidding!).
- as OS I use the Gentoo, as it is my favourite flavour of all Linux distributions.
The bottom line of this story is that, using the equipments that one might already have it at home + buying some extra but cheap equipments from eBay, the true price of Raspberry Pi does not exceed 50$ (or 38€ or 33£).
The bord along with a 2G SD card:
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The silicon rubber USB keyboard:
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The RCA composite video cable:
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The mini to micro USB charger adaptor converted:
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Last but not least my zero dollar cardboard "pibow replica" case, not so artistic, not so gorgeous like the original, but at least it's cheap and it's eco-friendly:
The case seen on the top
The case seen from the front
The case seen from one side
The case seen from the other side
Since the Raspberry Pi project aims to provides a cheap computing solution, I thought that it would be nonsense to spend more on accessories that on the computing unit itself. The solution I've found sounds/looks sensible.
Now, if you think that this article was interesting don't forget to rate it. It shows me that you care and thus I will continue write about these things.
Eugen Mihailescu
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