Raspberry Pi Vs Arduino

[Sidewinder]

Thinking about one of these for my lad 13 for Xmas.

He seems to want a go at programming & computing stuff, so I thought that one of these would be more real, tactile shall we say.

The questions are, from those of you have already played with these are, which one, what differences, what are they targeted to do etc.?

 

[steptoe]

there seems to be quite a lot more 'instant' makeable things available for the Pi,

ie, robots , displays etc

that your lad could see his results via,

the arduino appears to me to be a much more indepth device, with not so many visible results available,

 

[Barx]

They are kinda different products.

The R-Pi is a full system on a board with direct A/V output. You run an OS on the board and create programs that run on that OS.

The Arduino is a development board that surrounds a Micro controller. There is no immediate way to interact with the world (other than 1 LED). You have to add sensors, display, inputs, etc.

If you want your son to be into developing electronics projects, go for arduino. Go for either a Uno or on of the mini devices that are compatible with bread boards (the full size models aren't)

If you want to concentrate on programming and have the possibility to make things like little games 'out of the box'. go for R-Pi. Just bare in mind you need a hdmi monitor / tv (unless you get an addon). The starter kits are great.

p.s. if he like programming introduce him to the Code Academy

 

[ProDave]

I've used the arduino.

It's very quick to set up and program (assuming you can program in C) the software to program it is a free download to run on a PC and it connects via USB for downloading and debugging.

But as already said, it's a microcontroller. So you build it in to some project and interface it to the real world and make it do things and control stuff.

There are a lot of add on modules available off the shelf to interface to stuff, or you can build your own.

 

[M107]

Also schools are now starting to use RP for ICT classes............

 

[binky]

Think I would start with a Pi, as its easier, then progess to the Arduino if he gets into it.

 

[Sidewinder]

I've used the arduino.

It's very quick to set up and program (assuming you can program in C) the software to program it is a free download to run on a PC and it connects via USB for downloading and debugging.

But as already said, it's a microcontroller. So you build it in to some project and interface it to the real world and make it do things and control stuff.

There are a lot of add on modules available off the shelf to interface to stuff, or you can build your own.

PD,

My lad has no idea what "C" is, apart from it being a capital letter in the alphabet at the moment!!!

 

[ProDave]

PD,

My lad has no idea what "C" is, apart from it being a capital letter in the alphabet at the moment!!!

It's a programming language.  If he doesn't know it, he will have to learn some of it before he can make an arduino do anything.

 

[Sidewinder]

PD,

I KNOW what "C" is & have done some programming in it.

However, this looks like it is the deal breaker for the Arduino, whilst it may be more powerful, I want him to be able to easily make something that works to give him encouragement.

SO perhaps Raspberry Pi first then Arduino later...

 

[Sidewinder]

It is the CPC flyer that got me thinking about it!

Does anyone have any recommendations on a kit from CPC?...

 

[Sidewinder]

Was originally looking @ this:

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/bespoke/bespoke2.jsp?bespokepage=cpc/en_CC/special_offers/bargains/part_detail/U-Create.htm&CMP=NLem2

 

[Sidewinder]

Dunno have not looked in detail yet, wanted some ideas first!

Will check, as obviously we need to power the damn thing!

The WiFi dongle would be good too, as would the dedicated USB hub.

Thanks, things to look out for.

 

[steptoe]

as with canoe,

Id look at this first tbh,

I think a Pi will give him faster results and thus keep his interest going better,

he will see almost instant results from his efforts, rather than wait for ages and hit lots of problems,

also, a lot more forums available for troubleshooting.

 

[Sidewinder]

The kit I linked to that got my eye is the traffic light kit!

 

[kerching]

I go off line for a couple of hours, come back and all i can see is. CPC this.  And CPC that

anyway, as the nominated CPC Czar i can confirm that the starter bundle comes with a psu, dongle, keyboard, mouse, hub, pi and some other stuff.

Coz i bought one!

All i bought as an extra was a bigger sim card

 

[Barx]

I go off line for a couple of hours, come back and all i can see is. CPC this.  And CPC that

anyway, as the nominated CPC Czar i can confirm that the starter bundle comes with a psu, dongle, keyboard, mouse, hub, pi and some other stuff.

Coz i bought one!

All i bought as an extra was a bigger sim card

Please don't try to put a sim card in the damn thing.