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Raspberry Pi Zero - Your First Impressions

spannerspencer

So, big news today, eh? The all new, super-slim, super-small Raspberry Pi Zero.

 

We've got all the tech specs, we've compared it to the other Raspberry Pis, we've got an FAQ running, and we've even had a go at turning it into a retro games console (quite successfully, I might add!).

 

So what are your first impressions? What sort of projects do you envisage it being useful for?

 

Tell us below!

 

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  • I like it. Make me think of a Raspberry Pi 2 model A. Only downside I can see is the lack of the camera interface. I can understand why, but if you put this on a robot, having the camera made it cool for image processing. Other than that, you can load and build with a bigger Pi, and use this for your final development. Hooking up a keyboard/HDMI is a piece of cake, or you can just hook in a wifi dongle and remote in. pretty nifty. I'm thinking mini-sumo for some strange reason. :-)

     

    And for all those idiots that keep moaning about cables and keyboards making these "expensive", show me a SBC that runs linux that dosen't need them. You don't moan about needing to buy a harddisk and simm's when you buy a motherboard. If you like the C.H.I.P., buy one and wait. Just be honest and say you like it so you're biased. Heck, I am biased when it comes to the Pi's. Raspberry Pi foundation has give me a lot to be biased about.

  • in reply to skspurling

    I appreciate a lot what Raspberry Pi foundation did for the community. It raised so much awareness and passion on the Linux and SBCs as never before.

    Hats off for this part!

    I only wished they would adhere more to the true open source mindset (as Linux is) and make public many things.

    I would also want them to be more open minded when it comes to the CPU choice.

    The CPUs provided by Broadcom are nice but the attitude of this company is questionable. They probably like the fact their CPU is selling well as part of RPis, but as long as they don't publicly offer BSP/documents pertaining to their CPUs, it is not going to make me see them with better eyes.

    There are many other companies offering datasheets/BSP for their CPUs and if Raspberry Pi would come out with a Zero-like board but being 100% open-source and using a fully documented CPU, me and others would buy them like crazy. Some users would like to use the GPU or the CSI and DSI interfaces for various purposes. Does Broadcom offer public support for them? No

    As long as Raspberry Pi doesn't want to listen, there will be other companies (CHIP, Olimex, ... ) offering fully open-source alternatives.

    Long before RPi came out I had the chance to work with many embedded Linux boards and when you really need to squeeze the performance out of a CPU, BSP/documentation is priceless.

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  • in reply to skspurling

    I appreciate a lot what Raspberry Pi foundation did for the community. It raised so much awareness and passion on the Linux and SBCs as never before.

    Hats off for this part!

    I only wished they would adhere more to the true open source mindset (as Linux is) and make public many things.

    I would also want them to be more open minded when it comes to the CPU choice.

    The CPUs provided by Broadcom are nice but the attitude of this company is questionable. They probably like the fact their CPU is selling well as part of RPis, but as long as they don't publicly offer BSP/documents pertaining to their CPUs, it is not going to make me see them with better eyes.

    There are many other companies offering datasheets/BSP for their CPUs and if Raspberry Pi would come out with a Zero-like board but being 100% open-source and using a fully documented CPU, me and others would buy them like crazy. Some users would like to use the GPU or the CSI and DSI interfaces for various purposes. Does Broadcom offer public support for them? No

    As long as Raspberry Pi doesn't want to listen, there will be other companies (CHIP, Olimex, ... ) offering fully open-source alternatives.

    Long before RPi came out I had the chance to work with many embedded Linux boards and when you really need to squeeze the performance out of a CPU, BSP/documentation is priceless.

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