• a_fancy_kiwi@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago
    Pi 5 w/ 8GB - $80
    Pi 5 Case - $10
    Pi 5 Charger - $8*
    UHS1 Micro SD - $5**
    
    Total - $103
    

    That’s pretty steep. I can get a Beelink with an N95, 8 GB of memory, and 256 GB of storage on Amazon, right now, for $127. Comes with intel quick sync, I can upgrade the RAM later if I want, and the SSD isn’t going to corrupt anytime I sneeze.

    The Pi Pico and Pi Zero 2 W are still great but their high end Pis don’t make sense anymore. Form factor and/or that 6ish*** watt difference between the Beelink and Pi 5 have to be really important

    * based off pi 4 charger
    ** based off Microcenter website
    *** quick google search of both devices’ power consumption under load
    
    • PeachMan@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Then please, buy the Beelink thing so I can get a Pi 5 for projects. I already have chargers, plenty of SD cards, a 3D printer for an enclosure, and a box of 50 heat sinks of various sizes. And I’ll be just fine with the base $60 model, so that’s all I need to spend.

      • a_fancy_kiwi@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I’m more confused than anything.

        I didn’t have a lot of money as a teenager. My family had 1 computer we all shared. I couldn’t tinker with it, what if I broke it? Cheap Pis were the gateway to my lifelong computer hobby. Because of that hobby, I was able to get a job where part of my role is full-stack web dev. I don’t know what I would be doing now if I didn’t have access to cheap Pis when I was younger.

        Especially in this economy, those prices just make me sad :/

        • bob_wiley@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Buying used is a great option for a kid looking to tinker. Looking on craigslist I see a few different towers for $30-50. I even found what looks like a pretty decent laptop (i5 with 12gb ram and an SSD) for $40. It has a docking station too. I’m actually tempted to buy it.