talk to me about raspberry pi

[emanresU]

I'm thinking this might be a cool gift for my 10 year old for xmas - can get a starter kit for around 75 quid

I thibk it MAY give him a grass roots introduction into the world of computer coding

Drawback be g I personally wouldn't have a scooby how to help him if he gets stuck

Good idea to get him this or no?

Pros and cons welcome

Thankyou

[Toucanet]

Go for it - all the info he'll need is online anyway so no need for you to be a coder yourself! Clever present. Guess he might appreciate a little something with more immediate satisfaction on the day but if he's inquisitive and not too impatient hopefully a pi should entertain him for more than a few days.

[Ferguson]

When our DS was ten (over twenty years ago) we got him an Acorn A5000 (£2000), and Canon colour printer (£600) but that was the penalty for being an 'early adopter'.

So yes, I concur - go for it.

£75, I guess you have added in keyboard, screen or TV, etc.

There are Pi groups all over the country, and in many schools. Search the Pi websites, also Linux sites.

Helps if he has reasonable maths and science, can concentrate and 'apply' himself to a task for a fair length of time.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

I hope it's straightforward - DS 9 is getting a Kano kit for Xmas!

[DoctorTwo]

Your newsagent will likely stock a couple of magazines devoted to those of us who run Linux. All Linux magazines have sections on Pi and how to use it. There is also an OS out there called Raspbian (or Rasbian, or maybe even Raspian) which, judging by its name, is likely a Linux/Symbian hybrid.

[ignominious]

If you already have some computer stuff at home you might be able to get away with just buying the basic board if cost is an issue. Mine runs off a phone charger and the old SD card out my camera.

[Chasingsquirrels]

There is a Pi magazine - Magpi that you can download for free, I've got it in my newstand app on ipad. Worth a look it you go for it.

I got my then 11yo one last xmas, he was overwhelmed when he opened it (which I didn't expect), couldn't use it immediately as we didn't have the right sort of mouse connection (grr) but got quite into it for a few weeks. He couldn't get a programme right and go put off, but goes back to it now and then. He prefers playing minecraft on the pc though!

[technodad]

Go for it, but as the others say, follow it up with things to help.

Be prepared to get some add-on boards later, so that he can get it to interface with the real world.

If you are unsure if he will like it, try installing "Scratch" on your home PC/Mac (Free from MIT).

If he gets on with scratch, he love a Pi!

[Llareggub]

Have a look at the Kano.

[borisgudanov]

Raspbian is a version of Debian Linux prepared specifically for this platform. Getting a pi to do anything requires first and foremost confidence Linux, but it's pretty bog standard Linux for which any text dealing with Debian should be suitable.

[Namehanger]

Or wonder workshop - dot and dash programmable robots. Not available in the UK yet, but coming to these shores at the beginning of 2015.

[farmerslife]

Right, I bottled it at Christmas but ds birthday on Saturday would like to get him a raspberry pi, what do I need happy to get a few extras books etc !

[pigsinmud]

I have bought one for dd1 for her birthday next week - she'll be 11. I bought a starter kit from pimoroni.com. It has the pi, case, keyboard, mouse & power. Plus a little bag. I also got a book called Adventures in Raspberry Pi. Dd1 went on a computer course last term where they dabbled with Raspberry pi.

It's going to be an adventure we go on together I think! I have an old monitor she can use. I am a bit nervous as although she enjoyed it at the time, I'm not sure she's expecting one for her birthday! I also Voltage village glowing house set. You make 2 paper houses that glow in the dark - I know she'll like that one!