最初的Raspberry Pi(original Raspberry Pi)是一台迷人的小机器。它最初是作为年轻人可以学习编码的负担得起的系统而创建的。与摆弄家庭计算机相比，完全可访问且没有风险。(Completely)如果不灌输玩耍和修补的冲动，就无法创建新一代的程序员。
然而，该设备背后的团队无法想象它会变成什么样子。第一个 Pi 也成为了创客界的宠儿。我们看到了数以千计的项目，这些项目使 Pi 可以发挥您所能想象的任何作用。
结合Arduino，天空真的是极限。最重要的是，它是现金短缺学生的完美低成本计算机。尤其是那些生活在世界上缺乏平均收入来买不起更好东西的地方的人。只需大约 35 美元，再加上便宜的键盘和鼠标，您就可以将任何旧电视变成台式电脑。
自 2019 年以来，我们已经看到了几代新一代 Pi，Raspberry Pi 4已经大张旗鼓地推出。无论您是 Pi 的死忠粉还是最近才开始好奇，我们都会揭开这台奇妙的小机器的神秘面纱，让您知道它是否适合您。
好的，但是什么是(is)树莓派？
为了清楚起见，所有Raspberry Pi计算机都是独立的片上系统计算机。将Raspberry (Think)Pi(Raspberry Pi)视为智能手机或平板电脑的核心，您必须在其中连接自己的输入设备和显示器。它是一台计算机，只剩下最重要的组件，作为单个电路板出售。
乍一看，这听起来可能不太吸引人，但每一代 Pi 都提供了大量的计算机来赚钱。不仅仅是作为一种好奇心，而是作为许多不同场景的实用工具。归根结底，Raspberry Pi是一款使用手机组件制成的廉价计算机，远不止是玩具。
那么，Pi 4 适合我吗？
虽然Raspberry Pi是一台了不起的小型机器，但它并不是每个人的正确选择。在选择一个之前，您需要回答两个主要问题。
首先(First)，您为该设备设想的用途是否属于其计算能力？Pi 4的马力比以前的型号大得多。所以过去的答案可能是“不”，但现在“是”。我们将在本文稍后讨论这台新机器的功能到底有多强大
您需要回答的第二个问题是您要运行的软件原则上是否可以在 Pi 上运行。Pi 运行一种形式的Linux，专门为ARM处理器架构编译。
在大多数情况下，这意味着您的应用程序需要在Linux中运行(Linux) 并(and )在ARM版本中运行。由于即使是最新的 Pi 的处理能力也有限，我们不建议模拟更常见的 x86 架构。选择替代方案可能会更好。
除了(Addition)Pi 4，我还需要什么？
当您购买Pi 4时，您得到的只是电脑板本身。对于电源，您可以使用连接到普通USB电源的标准USB-C电缆。(USB-C)这可以是电视上的USB端口或旧手机充电器。只要它可以在 3A 时输出 5V 就可以了。
Pi 基金会(Pi Foundation)推荐他们自己的官方 15.3W USB-C 壁式充电器。Pi 4的功率要求明显更高，因此您必须仔细检查。虽然它可能以较少的功率运行，但一旦处理需求增加或连接了太多外围设备，就可能出现不稳定。
您还需要一个可以连接到 micro-HDMI 的显示器。这意味着您可能必须获得一个适配器。
Pi 没有内置二级存储，这意味着购买或回收 SD 卡。您可以随Pi 4一起购买预装的软件，或者只需使用另一台计算机将软件下载到您已经拥有的卡上。
Pi 4就像一块裸板一样。如果需要，您必须提供自己的案例。这是可选的，许多人使用他们的 Pi 计算机根本没有外壳。您可以购买官方案例、3D 打印或手工制作。选择是无穷无尽的。
Pi 4 有什么新功能？
这是 Pi 有史以来最全面的更新之一。虽然第一代 Pi 是智能妥协的产物，但Pi 4的功能集可与任何典型计算机相媲美。
您可以选择三种RAM配置：1GB、2GB 或 4GB。虽然您以后无法升级，但选择正确的选项至关重要。
有两个微型HDMI端口，支持两个 4K 显示器。四个USB端口，其中两个是USB 3，为外围设备提供了足够的空间。特别是因为Pi 4内置了Wifi 和蓝牙(Bluetooth)。以前的型号需要USB加密狗来实现这些功能。有线以太网(Ethernet)也像以前一样存在且正确。
毫无疑问，这款新 Pi 的大明星是四核Cortex A72片上系统。这种新的核心芯片的速度是Pi 3(Pi 3)的三到四倍。视具体任务而定。这使它处于Pi 4实际可以用于典型日常桌面任务(typical daily desktop tasks)的水平。
软件问题
您可以在Pi 4上加载在(Pi 4)ARM架构上运行的任何操作系统和应用程序，但大多数人会想要Raspbian ，这是为(Raspbian)Raspberry Pi设计的特殊版本的 Debian Linux。
不幸的是，在撰写本文时，Raspbian 还没有为最新的硬件版本做好准备。因此，一些希望运行特定游戏模拟器或其他流行 Pi 应用程序的用户可能希望推迟到从事这些项目的开发人员完成所有问题。
我应该购买旧的 Pi 吗？
这款新的Raspberry Pi 4比以前的型号快得多，您是否应该考虑购买旧型号？这是一个很好的问题，特别是因为新 Pi 的发布价格与以前的型号相同。因此，如果您愿意为Pi 4(Pi 4)支付要价，那么显然它是最物有所值的。
这并不意味着所有第三代和旧设备突然变得无用。如果您能以比Pi 4(Pi 4)低得多的价格找到它们，那么您仍然可以做很多事情。现在还有一个更成熟的旧型号软件库。预计在不久的将来会有许多廉价的二手 Pi 电脑上市销售。
有你的 Pi 并吃掉它
令人惊讶的是，您现在只需 35 美元就能买到一台入门级台式电脑！几乎似乎必须有一些陷阱，但事实是计算机技术已经发展到大多数计算机比大多数用户需要的更强大的程度。最新的Raspberry Pi是“足够好(good enough)”计算机的终极示例。他们说你不能一边吃蛋糕一边吃，但显然这对于 Pi 来说不算数。
What You Need to Know About the Raspberry Pi 4
The original Raspberry Pi was a fascinating little machine. It was originally created as an affordable system young people could learn to code on. Completely accessible and posing no risks, compared to messing around with the family computer. You can’t create a new generation of coders without instilling the urge to play and tinker.
However, the team of people behind that device could not have imagined what it would become. The first Pi also became the darling of the maker scene. We saw thousands of projects that adapted the Pi to act as anything you can imagine.
Combined with an Arduino, the sky really was the limit. Best of all, it was the perfect low-cost computer for cash-strapped students. Especially those who lived in parts of the world that lacked the average income to afford anything better. For about $35, plus a cheap keyboard and mouse, you could turn any old TV into a desktop PC.
We’ve seen several new generations of Pi since and now, in 2019, the Raspberry Pi 4 has launched to no small fanfare. Whether you are a die-hard Pi fan or have only started being curious recently, we’re going to demystify this wonderful little machine so that you know if it’s right for you.
OK, But What is a Raspberry Pi?
To make things crystal clear, all Raspberry Pi computers are self-contained system-on-a-chip computers. Think of a Raspberry Pi as being the guts of a smartphone or tablet where you have to connect your own input devices and display. It’s a computer stripped down to its most essential components, sold as a single circuit board.
That might not sound too appealing at first glance, but it’s always been the case that each generation of Pi offers a lot of computer for the money. Not just as a curiosity, but as a practical tool for many different scenarios. The bottom line is that the Raspberry Pi is an inexpensive computer made with mobile phone components that’s far more than a toy.
So, Is The Pi 4 For Me?
While the Raspberry Pi is a phenomenal little machine, it’s not the right choice for everyone. There are two primary questions you need to answer before shelling out for one.
First of all, will the purpose you envision for the device fall within its computing abilities? The Pi 4 has a lot more horsepower than the previous model. So the answer might have been “no” in the past, but “yes” now. We’ll discuss exactly how much more powerful this new machine is a little later in this article
The second question you need to answer is whether the software you want to run will work on the Pi in principle. The Pi runs a form of Linux, specially compiled for the ARM processor architecture.
In most cases this means your application needs to work in Linux and work in the ARM version at that. With the limited processing power of even the newest Pi, we wouldn’t recommend emulating the more common x86 architecture. It would probably be better to opt for an alternative.
What Will I Need in Addition to the Pi 4?
When you buy the Pi 4, all you get is the computer board itself. For power, you can use a standard USB-C cable connected to a normal USB power source. This can be the USB port on your TV or an old phone charger. As long as it can output 5V at 3A you’ll be OK.
The Pi Foundation recommends their own official 15.3W USB-C wall charger. The Pi 4 has significantly higher power requirements, so you will have to double check. While it may run with less power, as soon as the processing demands pick up or too many peripherals are connected, there could be instability.
You also need a display that can be connected to micro-HDMI. Which means you’ll probably have to get an adapter.
The Pi Doesn’t have secondary storage built in, which means buying or recycling an SD card. You can pick up a preloaded one along with your Pi 4 or just download the software to a card you already own using another computer.
The Pi 4 comes just as a naked board. You’ll have to provide your own case if you need one. This is optional and many people use their Pi computers with no case at all. You can buy an official case, have one 3D printed or just make something by hand. The options are endless.
What’s New in The Pi 4?
This is one of the most comprehensive updates to the Pi ever. While the first-generation Pi was a product of smart compromises, the Pi 4 has a feature set that puts in on par with any typical computer.
You can choose between three RAM configurations: 1GB, 2GB or 4GB. Although you can’t upgrade later, so choosing the right option is crucial.
There are two micro HDMI ports, with support for two 4K displays. Four USB ports, two of which are USB 3, provide more than enough room for peripherals. Especially since the Pi 4 has Wifi and Bluetooth built in. Previous models required a USB dongle for these functions. Wired Ethernet is present and correct as before as well.
The big star of this new Pi is without a doubt the quad-core Cortex A72 system on a chip. This new core chip is between three and four times as fast as the Pi 3. Depending on the specific task. This puts it’s it at a level where the Pi 4 could actually be used for typical daily desktop tasks.
The Software Issue
You can load just about any operating system and applications that work on the ARM architecture on the Pi 4, but most people are going to want Raspbian, a special version of Debian Linux designed for the Raspberry Pi.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Raspbian isn’t quite ready for the latest hardware revision. So some users who are hoping to run particular game emulators or other popular Pi applications might want to hold off until the developers working on those projects finish ironing out all the kinks.
Should I Buy An Older Pi?
With this new Raspberry Pi 4 being so much faster than the previous model, should you consider buying an older model? That’s a good question, especially since the new Pi is the same launch price as previous models. So if you are willing to pay the asking price for the Pi 4 then clearly it’s the best for the money.
That doesn’t mean all the third-generation and older devices are suddenly useless. If you can find them at significantly lower prices than that of a Pi 4, there’s still plenty of things you can do. Right now there’s also a much more mature software library for the older models. Expect many inexpensive used Pi computers to go up for sale in the near future.
Have Your Pi and Eat It Too
It’s pretty astounding that you can now get an entry-level desktop computer for the sum of $35! It almost seems like there has to be some catch, but the truth is that computer technology has advanced to the point that most computers are more powerful than most users need them to be. The latest Raspberry Pi is the ultimate example of a “good enough” computer. They say you can’t have your cake and eat it too, but clearly that doesn’t count when it comes to Pi.
