Pikalev15 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2024 3:54 am

ame wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 21, 2024 9:09 pm

OP has logged in again, but not contributed to the discussion. Maybe it's not a genuine enquiry?

sorry no laptop. my parents do not let me have my laptop all the time

ejolson wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2024 4:17 am

Pikalev15 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2024 3:54 am

ame wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 21, 2024 9:09 pm

OP has logged in again, but not contributed to the discussion. Maybe it's not a genuine enquiry?

sorry no laptop. my parents do not let me have my laptop all the time

If you already have a laptop, then a Chromebook is much the same except more limited. If you install Linux on a mini PC, that will be noticeably different than a laptop and might be interesting.

A Raspberry Pi is more unique than the mini PC or the Chromebook. From a software point of view Linux is vendor supported. From a hardware point of view the small size and GPIO enable robotics and automation projects by allowing connection of physical controls and sensors in a direct way that is impossible with a Chromebook or mini PC.

Welcome to the forum!

tinker2much wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 20, 2024 4:26 pm

The pi5 works fine as a desktop, for most everything you might use a PC for. I wouldn't try to wait for a pi6, as W. H. Heydt says.

I wouldn't buy a mini PC, unless you have something specific in mind that only it can do. It's not that different from a pi and will definitely use more power.

I have twice bought Chromebooks and they work well for web-based work. But I don't like Google hovering up all my data, so I deliberately removed ChromeOS and installed GNU/Linux (once Debian, once Manjaro). I do this as a very personal choice, a kind of blow for freedom. You may not care as strongly as I do. But note that this is often difficult to do, and not everything works even so, despite some good help on the web.

You can buy a cheap used Windows laptop and either dual boot or just install Linux. This gives you something portable and eliminates the need for a monitor. Even older models run well with lighter distributions (or window managers).

So my recommendation is to get a pi5 (perhaps saving money by getting one with less memory), and if you want something else (or something in addition), a repurposed used cheap laptop.

Pikalev15 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 17, 2024 1:33 pm

but wouldn't that affect performance as a daily driver? how big is the impact?