How to get set up and
use everyone's favourite tiny computer
The Raspberry Pi computer was designed to get more people into
computer sciences but it’s also hugely popular with DIY modders and robotics
enthusiasts. The Pi can run your smarthome appliances, it can power remote
control vehicles, and it can be a media centre to stream all your favourite
content. We recently
reviewed the 64-bit Raspberry Pi 3 and
the verdict is that the newest model is a capable computer in its own right
too.
Whatever
you want to use the Pi for, you’ll need to buy a few items and download the
right files so it all goes smoothly. There are a lot of different Pi boards,
operating systems, and peripherals out there so we’re here to simplify the
process and give you the tips to get your Pi up and running perfectly. If
you’re getting started with the Raspberry Pi, this guide should be all you
need.
What do you need?
We’re
going to assume you’re buying the latest and greatest model: the Raspberry Pi
3. The older models are the same size but are much slower and lack integrated
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There’s also a smaller Pi Zero that’s good for some DIY
projects but not as powerful a computer.
The Pi
3 itself costs
around £30. A case for the Pi is optional but recommended to keep it
clean (this
one is our favourite). The Pi doesn’t actually have its own
storage; there’s no hard drive. You need to buy a micro SD card if you haven’t
got one lying around. At least 8GB is best but larger cards can be used. This will
be where you install the operating system and keep all your own files when
using the Pi. After that all you really need is a power supply, HDMI cable,
keyboard and mouse.
If you
want to keep things very simple, you can buy a starter
kit for around £50 that
includes the Pi, a case, the power supply and the micro SD card with NOOBS
pre-installed.
NOOBS?
Your
Raspberry Pi needs an operating system and there are a few available. The best
for most people is Raspbian, a flavour of Linux specifically designed for the
Raspberry Pi. We recommend this operating system and it’s easy to install. Just download the latest version
(Raspbian Jessie) and unzip the contents onto a
formatted micro SD card. We recommend SD Formatter 4.0 for emptying your card and getting it
ready for the Pi.
If you
buy the starter kit then the SD card will come with NOOBS, which is an
easy setup wizard that gives you a number of operating systems to choose from.
When you start up the Pi you can select Raspbian or any other OS to install it.
NOOBS is for noobs and it’s great. If you want to download NOOBS and put it on
an empty SD card,you
can get the files here.
Setting up the Pi
So you
have all the bits and bobs you need including a micro SD card containing
Raspbian or another operating system. Now it’s time to start plugging
everything in. Slide the SD card into the card port on the underside of the Pi.
Make sure it’s all the way in.
The Pi has
a bunch of ports on top for things like camera modules but around the sides
you’ll find very familiar options for USB, ethernet, audio, and HDMI. Connect
the Pi up to an HDMI monitor and plug the keyboard and mouse into the USB
ports. This is what it should look like if you aren’t using a case to hide
everything:
Now all you need to do is connect the power supply to turn it
on. The Pi doesn’t have a power button so you have to turn the plug off at the
mains or remove the power cord from the Pi itself. Obviously save what you’re
doing if turning it off. The Pi will immediately start up upon receiving power
and go through its normal booting process. If you’re using NOOBS, a simple menu
will ask which OS you want to install. The installation process can take a
while but you don’t need to do anything. Go and have a coffee. And some
raspberry pie.
Once
installed, the operating system will launch normally. In previous versions of Raspbian,
the Pi would launch to a command-line interface by default and you had to type
commands to enter the more familiar graphical user interface (GUI) that feels
like Windows and OSX. Now the GUI is default so you’ll see a desktop with icons
and menus before you know it. There’s even a recycle bin. Congratulations,
you’ve put together and turned on a Raspberry Pi. Let’s get acquainted with the
software.
Exploring Raspbian
Jessie
(the different versions of Raspbian are named after Toy Story characters) is a
very friendly OS and comes with useful software to make the Pi 3 a practical
computer straight away. The menu at the top is much like the taskbar at the
bottom of a Windows desktop and it has its own Start button of sorts where you
can access installed applications. Also on the taskbar you’ll find the time and
a handy eject button for safely removing USB drives. Always use it!
Courtesy: Gadgette
More abort RaspberryPi, contactAppin Coimbatore @
www.appincoimbatore.com
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