Any consumer looking at a Raspberry Pi 4 should already be impressed with its specifications. What once started out as a small project has now bloomed into a fully operational system. But how likely is it that an average consumer can use it to replace their daily use desktop?
Strength In Size
Convenient computing is one of the biggest demands of IT support services. A smaller footprint is part of that demand, and that is where Raspberry Pi comes in. It is as barebones as you can get without sacrificing significant processing power. The only necessary components are a keyboard, mouse, storage and monitor. As a result, the cost savings of a Raspberry Pi makes it the best cost to value ratio on the market. The price is unbeatable, and the hardware continues to improve with each iteration. If you enjoy using a small factor form (SFF) desktop, then a Raspberry Pi 3 is the next logical step.
Web Browsing
Despite the power provided by mid to high end desktops, its main use defaults to web browsing. Laptops introduced a portable way to do this, while netbooks and tablets paved the way for power saving alternatives. The big difference between these three devices were how they handled web pages. Laptops got the full website, while netbooks and tablets got their own proprietary viewing experiences. With Raspberry Pi 4, users get the full desktop experience at all times when viewing web pages. This includes scripts, the latest web browsers and the best popup blockers. This isn’t a new experience for a platform, but it has been refined with each version.
Compatibility
With Windows 11 rolling out to multiple home and business systems, a lot of desktop users are finding out that their systems can’t be upgraded. This is shocking news for many users with hardware less than a year old. The Raspberry Pi 4 came out in 2019 and can easily run several different OSes, including Windows 11. What is turning into a big upgrade for expensive desktops is a minimal side grade for the credit card sized Raspberry Pi. This type of compatibility will continue to flourish on the system, especially since it is outfitted with USB 3, USB-C and multiple micro-HDMI ports.
Media Use
Despite its size, the Raspberry Pi platform has a cult following as a media machine. There are several successful projects that have used it as a streaming server for movies, television shows and video games. It doesn’t run the risk of overheating, and allows you access to an unlimited amount of media. With high tier virtual services, you can successfully use the Raspberry Pi as a server. Hooking up multiple of these devices will give you a powerful network that still costs significantly less than a normal desktop.
The Future Is Here
This credit card sized computer is no longer a niche product in today’s market. The Raspberry Pi 4 is the real deal for both consumers and businesses. If you want a nice shift in technology, there is nothing wrong with miniaturizing your lifestyle.