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Post by alexham36 on Jun 27, 2012 12:14:29 GMT
Hi,
Just reading through various bits of info on Internet I learned that the Raspberry Pi is delivered without any operating system and that it is up to the user to download one and install it on SDHC card, from which Raspberry boots up.
How does one download anythig without a browser? I can download the O/S to my PC, but how do I write onto SDHC card? With the Linux O/S that I downloaded before I always had only 2 options - save to HD or direct to a CD.
My Raspberry is now on the way, so any ideas would be most welcome.
Many thanks,
Alex
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Post by jojo on Jun 27, 2012 21:30:08 GMT
I was looking at that and rueing being old. Apparently it can run any OS complying with ARMv6. (Apologies if that suggests I know more than I do. I'm actually reciting what I've read). Debian is recommended for example. The model B sounds especially worth it. Can't quite see the point of Model A. www.raspberrypi.org/faqs
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Post by jojo on Jun 27, 2012 21:32:50 GMT
Frankly, I'm surprised our own Mikkh hasn't become a fan. It sounds to be right up his stream.
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Post by mikkh on Jun 27, 2012 22:04:27 GMT
Not really, it might keep me amused for an hour or so, but not having a Heath Robinson use for one, I'd rather get something with more computing power like a mini ITX box
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Post by elvisuk on Jun 28, 2012 0:19:15 GMT
Well i don't see the point in it as an old Laptop or old PC should be just as good or am i missing something?
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Post by jojo on Jun 28, 2012 3:20:25 GMT
With respect, I think you're both looking at the pi as a cheap computer. That's a mistake.
The spirit of adventure that persuaded thousands to buy a ZX81 or a Jupiter Ace. These weren't intended to be alternatives to the then IBM or one of the few 8086 based computers. These were simple, 8 bit machines intended to encourage ordinary people to innovate. That was the spirit behind Linux. To try something new, experiment. Innovate.
The pi is aimed at those who want to experiment and who can afford to loose 30 bucks if it doesn't work out.
It's aimed at smarter children. It's aimed at young, probably unemployed and socially isolated adults for whom TV is just a bore.
You can read into this whatever you wish, (or not), but if I could, I'd definitely get one. If I visited CIT with it it would only be see if I could and perhaps show off. It would only ever be a single visit.
It's a great tool, a building block to possibilities.
But look at the specs. To think of it as a cheap PC or even a games machine is just weird.
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Post by elvisuk on Jun 28, 2012 9:17:34 GMT
Well that told me ;D
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Post by jojo on Jun 28, 2012 11:55:54 GMT
Love you too elvis.
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Post by mikkh on Jun 28, 2012 15:46:05 GMT
I know what you're saying and I did delete a rather lengthy reply comparing it to a ZX81 when do it yourself gizmos were the only affordable way of exploring PC technology. That market doesn't exist anymore apart from in education maybe and if I was bored enough to invent a single use gadget, I'd be more inclined to base it on an old PC motherboard I can pick up for a fiver rather than a trendy looking box. I've never been one for reinventing the wheel and I can't think of one single use for it, that isn't already covered by an existing product. As for the original question, this seems to solve your problem elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setupor if you plan to turn your TV into a media center with it wiki.openelec.tv/index.php?title=Installing_OpenELEC_on_Raspberry_Pi
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Post by jojo on Jun 28, 2012 18:30:36 GMT
You're certainly right about the age of home electronics being past. But I tend to think the notion of it being a cheap alternative rather than experimentation and improvement as being a prime problem. I know I spent huge amounts of various test equipment and discarded experiments.
The point about the ZX81/Jupiter Ace was that it was perfectly possible to experiment and try out ideas. Sadly, both succumbed to the growing games market where the availability of ever attractive looking games seemed to over shadow creativity.
I recall, when the ZX80 came out, some attempting to dismiss it as an expensive calculator. They asked the seemingly pertanant question, what can it do. When told it could be programmed, they claimed that calculators could be programmed, so what's the difference?
The point is mikkah, comparing a pi to a cheap computer is basically the same reasoning.
Pi might simply be a brief flirtation. I suspect it will persist for a while but gradually be overcome by expensive, prebuilt addons, and eventually games.
But the spirit of experimentation is what has taken us out of the trees.
I suspect, at each stage, it has been continually frustrated by those seeking to dismiss.
This is the death of many innovations. But the strongest will survive and eventually, experts will emerge, equally dismissive of newer innovations.
That's the way of humanity.
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Post by jojo on Jun 29, 2012 8:53:35 GMT
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Post by mikkh on Jun 30, 2012 7:53:05 GMT
I once toyed briefly with turning an old PC into a dedicated firewall - Linux driven obviously, but it was an exercise in self indulgence rather than a need to be more secure on the internet, so I abandoned that after a few weeks. I guess the pioneering spirit isn't that strong in me, but I did go to extraordinary lengths to not have Linux beat me when I first tried to use it 12 years or so ago. Nowadays it's literally child's play to get Linux installed and I just enjoy using it as a clutter free alternative to Windows.
I've been 'ripping' a DVD while typing this, something (along with many other tasks) that was impossible in Linux a decade ago, unless you had a masters degree in geek
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Post by jojo on Jun 30, 2012 10:36:03 GMT
The pi can probably be better thought of as an interface, connecting functioning parts to the outside world and the internet. The Internet connection is what really makes it different.
But unless you have any interest in controllers, then this thing will be as useful as hammer at the dinner table.
Though I did say I'm probably too old now to do much with it, I did say probably. ;D
Anyway, looking at it a bit more and I can see the vendors are principlay RS and Farnell. That's worrying. Both have been around since the dawn of time, of course, but both suffer from an insufferably self righteousness.
RS are, frankly, a useless company. Over priced, selling largely shoddy goods, with terrible customer service. The last time I bought from them was in 2005, (I think) a screwdriver. It arrived bent! then never did refund my money either.
Farnell are a bit more open, but also think any problems are due to peasants revolting.
Still, early days. It is Cambridge behind the project so I suppose we should all be enormously grateful to each and every one of them from recalling that we even exist.
The principal behind the idea, to produce a reliable interface between machine and the internet, with some limited controlling facilities is long over due.
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