A Tiny Computer Attracts a Million Tinkerers

minir · Post by **minir** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:31 am

Raspberry Pi may sound like the name of a math-based dessert. But it is actually one of the hottest and cheapest little computers in the world right now. Almost one million of these $35 machines have shipped since last February, capturing the imaginations of educators, hobbyists and tinkerers around the world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/techn ... ef=general

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minir

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:23 am

Very cool device, XBMC Frodo just added support for it. Looking to replace my dedicated XBMC pc's with the Pi's.. The even cheaper model a's should be out soon. Only problem is there are no MPEG-2 hardware decoding unless you buy the license separably.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:03 pm

morbidpete wrote:Very cool device, XBMC Frodo just added support for it. Looking to replace my dedicated XBMC pc's with the Pi's.. The even cheaper model a's should be out soon. Only problem is there are no MPEG-2 hardware decoding unless you buy the license separably.

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Hi morbidpete

I'd never heard of it before & thought some here might be interested in it. I see your way ahead of the game...Good for you.

Enjoy

Larry

nightowl · Post by **nightowl** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:20 am

I got one...its pretty neat! just a FYI if you get the pi + WIFI dongle + case + charger + HDMI to vga adapter you are looking at about 100$

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:55 am

nightowl wrote:I got one...its pretty neat! just a FYI if you get the pi + WIFI dongle + case + charger + HDMI to vga adapter you are looking at about 100$

My plan:
xbmcfrodo
hardwired (already in place for current PC)
HDMI (currently used for current PC)
use the USB on the TV to power it, or a small 1amp USB charger I have laying around along with the cable.
using my current Flirc (flirc.tv) to control it with my harmony remote.
a case is my only accessory I need.

What case did you grab?
I want something I can stick to the back of the TV possibly

nightowl · Post by **nightowl** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:52 pm

morbidpete wrote:My plan:
xbmcfrodo
hardwired (already in place for current PC)
HDMI (currently used for current PC)
use the USB on the TV to power it, or a small 1amp USB charger I have laying around along with the cable.
using my current Flirc (flirc.tv) to control it with my harmony remote.
a case is my only accessory I need.

What case did you grab?
I want something I can stick to the back of the TV possibly

i got a cheap red case....there are cases out there that allow you to mount it onm the back of the monitor

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:51 pm

This is relative to my interests... I scanned over the article a few days ago and was kinda like meh that's cool and forgot about it. Friend of mine was talking about them today and piqued my interests. I have never messed with linux becausei was scared of frying something i have put a lot of money into or just didnt know enough ect ect... but now im very excited that this is coming to fruition so i can tinker with stuff

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:21 pm

Well, Just placed my order for the 2. Need to shop around for cases and SD cards

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:22 pm

http://builttospecstore.storenvy.com/co ... -and-sleds
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... nics%2C262

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:33 pm

Bastid wrote:http://builttospecstore.storenvy.com/co ... -and-sleds
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... nics%2C262

purchased 2 of these
http://www.amazon.com/SB-Raspberry-Pi-C ... ry-pi+case

and 2 8GB class 10 SD

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:34 pm

all that is left is to figure out how to get the multichannel sound to my receiver. My TV will not pass thru 5.1. need either an adapter to yank out the audio via toslink or a new AV receiver (im leaning towards a new receiver)

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:00 am

Thats the one i was leaning towards but i did see a clear acrylic one that had some nice etching on it but i cant remember where i saw it... lol

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:02 am

Found... https://www.adafruit.com/products/859

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:06 pm

http://www.raspbmc.com/2013/02/raspbmc-hits-final/

BaLa · Post by **BaLa** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:57 pm

Seems pretty cool.

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:00 pm

Well my PI's arrived today. I have one up and running XBIAN. Working great. Just waiting for my keys to playback MPEG2 and VC1. $4.50 for both codecs for 1 Pi. Only issues so far is NextPVR is not compatible, So it crashes on loadup of the PVR. Disabled for now. I only use the pvr for sports anyways and football is over

Setting up the video sources was a pain since my storage server is on my domain with authenticated shares. Learning experience there

loop2kil · Post by **loop2kil** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:16 am

morbidpete wrote:Well my PI's arrived today. I have one up and running XBIAN. Working great. Just waiting for my keys to playback MPEG2 and VC1. $4.50 for both codecs for 1 Pi. Only issues so far is NextPVR is not compatible, So it crashes on loadup of the PVR. Disabled for now. I only use the pvr for sports anyways and football is over

Setting up the video sources was a pain since my storage server is on my domain with authenticated shares. Learning experience there

What was your total setup and running cost?

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:28 am

$77.59 for 2x Rasp Pi (includes shipping)
$27.80 for the 2x cases (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008TC ... UTF8&psc=1)
$16.00 for 2x Sandisk 8GB Class 10 SD Card (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085Q ... UTF8&psc=1)

$121.39 total

$60.70 per

It will pay for it's self in a few month's in the electric bill.

I had extra micro usb and hdmi cables on hand. I dont pay shipping with amazon since I'm a prime member.
I also already use a flirc and harmoney 650 to control the old XBMC PC. The flirc worked with out having to do anything

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:57 am

morbidpete wrote:My plan:
xbmcfrodo
hardwired (already in place for current PC)
HDMI (currently used for current PC)
use the USB on the TV to power it, or a small 1amp USB charger I have laying around along with the cable.
using my current Flirc (flirc.tv) to control it with my harmony remote.
a case is my only accessory I need.

I tinkered with xbmc all last week on several different Debian installs, a win7 install and ended up using xp on the comp.
This was all just research and play until I build a dedicated system, probably using a zbox barebones.

FYI, frodo has apps for android/ios now that lets a device (phone, table) be a remote control for it.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Of ... te/Android
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Of ... Remote/iOS

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:01 pm

TonyT wrote:I tinkered with xbmc all last week on several different Debian installs, a win7 install and ended up using xp on the comp.
This was all just research and play until I build a dedicated system, probably using a zbox barebones.

FYI, frodo has apps for android/ios now that lets a device (phone, table) be a remote control for it.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Of ... te/Android
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Of ... Remote/iOS

It's a very powerful piece of software. Been my main source of media for 3+ years now. I have 3 dedicated kits for XBMC in the house. It does everything from Live tv to my music and TV shows, Hulu and Amazon prime. I used to use the ios app exclusively to control it. But them I purchased 2 Flircs. I now use them with a harmony 650

the Constellation app blows every other XBMC remote out of the water

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/xbmc-co ... 07301?mt=8

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:58 am

The htpc I'm using is an older P4, 2GB RAM, nvidia 6 series agp, XP. Worked great but CPU idles at about 60-80% running xbmc. Just swapped in a different drive and loaded openelec generic (stable [xbmc 11]) & the system runs 500% smoother, faster and cooler. When openelec latest version goes final I'll then get a modern mini pc to use. For now, it works great.

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:42 pm

TonyT wrote:The htpc I'm using is an older P4, 2GB RAM, nvidia 6 series agp, XP. Worked great but CPU idles at about 60-80% running xbmc. Just swapped in a different drive and loaded openelec generic (stable [xbmc 11]) & the system runs 500% smoother, faster and cooler. When openelec latest version goes final I'll then get a modern mini pc to use. For now, it works great.

3.0 is now out and final, Built on frodo 21.1

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:44 pm

Setup a pi as a test at work last week, Loaded up rapbian. Used piano bar and pidora to stream pandora to the speaker system int he resturant. Gives a nice web gui to control pandora. We purchased the pandora one so no commercials. The web gui controls Pandora on the pi, been running for 3 days straight without an issue. We are getting more for the other stores

Shinobi · Post by **Shinobi** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:47 pm

morbidpete wrote:Setup a pi as a test at work last week, Loaded up rapbian. Used piano bar and pidora to stream pandora to the speaker system int he resturant. Gives a nice web gui to control pandora. We purchased the pandora one so no commercials. The web gui controls Pandora on the pi, been running for 3 days straight without an issue. We are getting more for the other stores

That's is very cool.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:44 am

morbidpete wrote:3.0 is now out and final, Built on frodo 21.1

Setup a pi as a test at work last week, Loaded up rapbian. Used piano bar and pidora to stream pandora to the speaker system int he resturant. Gives a nice web gui to control pandora. We purchased the pandora one so no commercials. The web gui controls Pandora on the pi, been running for 3 days straight without an issue. We are getting more for the other stores

Yup, I'm using 3.0 RC5. Smooth as silk!

I was considering a Pi. Yesterday I ordered a Zotac ID80. I have 4 GB Ram and a 500 GB drive to put in it. Can't wait...

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:35 am

TonyT wrote:Yup, I'm using 3.0 RC5. Smooth as silk!

I was considering a Pi. Yesterday I ordered a Zotac ID80. I have 4 GB Ram and a 500 GB drive to put in it. Can't wait...

That should work nicely, Are you only running one? I have 3 using a central NAS for the SQL backend and synced artwork and add-ons.

I have noticed the Pi's wont do the crazy animated backgrounds and transitions. But im cool with that

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:42 am

morbidpete wrote:That should work nicely, Are you only running one? I have 3 using a central NAS for the SQL backend and synced artwork and add-ons.
I have noticed the Pi's wont do the crazy animated backgrounds and transitions. But im cool with that

Just one htpc is all I need, I only have one tv. I can use its pnp to stream content to computers on the lan.
I gave the 'testing' computer to my brother, set it up yesterday with his projector in his theater room. Picked up a cheap MCE remote for it which works like a charm. At xmas I'll gift them a pi or a zotac.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:10 pm

so i can build one of these things to stream video from another PC or internet, like with youtube, ect.

i am getting a new plasma monday and need a new dvd player as it took a crap also.

how hard is it to use, can i run ethernet to it or only wireless ?

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:07 pm

Mark wrote:so i can build one of these things to stream video from another PC or internet, like with youtube, ect.

i am getting a new plasma monday and need a new dvd player as it took a crap also.

how hard is it to use, can i run ethernet to it or only wireless ?

Yes, raspbmc is your best bet. It has an ethernet port, Wireless would need an adapter. Not hard to setup at all. Just add the pc share to the "sources" in the video's menu. Very easy to use with the android or iphone app

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:56 pm

what about a WD TV live, a bit more money but seems to do the same things ?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/WD---WD-TV- ... Id=3558057

or is the pi offer something else ?

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:46 pm

pi is more for tinkerers...