We truly are living in the future, and the Raspberry Pi 400 is proof. You might have some knowledge of Raspberry. While by far not the most popular computer option out there, they are famous for their incredibly small size.
Long a favorite for amateur programmers, Raspberry is hoping to increase its market share with its iteration that packs a small but still quite powerful computer into a compact keyboard.
Are you ready for the best part? It only cost $70. Let that sink in for a moment. There is no shortage of regular keyboards out there for $100. This one includes a computer and all the ports you need to use it. Here’s everything you need to know about the Raspberry Pi 400.
Small But Reasonably Powerful
Don’t expect this to replace your gaming PC. Raspberry’s audience is more for those who mostly use their PCs to browse the internet, stream content, and do basic things like using MS Word. In this regard, it’s quite similar to a Chromebook.
The Pi 400 is powered by 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A72. It comes with 4GB of RAM, 802.11ac WiFi (WiFi 5), Bluetooth 5.0, and two USB 3.0 ports. You also get a single USB 2.0 port and a MicroSD slot for storage—it comes with a 16 GB SD card.
You might be surprised but even includes a pair of micro HDMI ports that support up to 4K output.
It’s all powered by a USB-C port, and you get everything bundled into the compact and laptop-style keyboard.
A Solid and Convenient Computer
While this is the most powerful Raspberry Pi ever, don’t expect to get your socks blown off by its performance. Still, it’s quite quick and handles most tasks with comparative ease.
Again, what we love about this computer is that it’s compact and cheap. It’s so easy to use too. You can unpack it and plug it into your TV via HDMI and have a fully functional computer in minutes.
A key thing to note is that Raspberry uses its own operating system—Raspberry Pi OS—that comes preloaded on the computer. It will feel familiar enough and even comes with a Chromium browser and a version of Minecraft built-in.
You can install Windows on it if you like, but you likely won’t get the same performance as you do from the built-in and optimized OS.
How to Make the Most of Your Raspberry Pi 400
Raspberry Pi computers are famous for how flexible they are. Since they are so affordable, they are a favorite for amateur programmers learning to build their skills and try out their ideas.
With this version, you’re more than welcome to continue in that tradition. But, since this device is more aimed towards average computer use, we have a few recommendations to ensure people’s best experience.
1. Get a VPN
VPNs or virtual private networks have grown incredibly popular lately. They are highly effective in promoting privacy and security by encrypting your internet connection and anonymizing your IP address.
Since so much of what you do is online, you’ll want one for your Raspberry Pi. This will protect it against hackers and allow you to take advantage of virtual server locations to unlock regional content from around the world. Check out this NordVPN review to learn more.
2. To Monitor or Not?
When Raspberry Pi first came out, we would have said that you absolutely should get a monitor. Now that TVs with HDMI ports are near-universal, that isn’t as necessary.
But still, it’s not always ideal to use a TV, especially if yours is wall mounted. If you decide to go with the Pi as your main computer, then it’s worth it to get a monitor. You can find plenty of decent options nowadays for under $100.
However, if this is just a toy, then take advantage of built-in connectivity tools like WiFi and Bluetooth to find ways to set up wireless screen sharing. You could even find ways to sync your phone!
3. Explore the open-source world
Raspberry Pi is a great gateway into the open-source world. Many of us don’t realize that there is an open-source and often free version of just about every software out there. Open Office is one of the most famous examples of this.
Use your Raspberry Pi as an opportunity to explore all the options out there. And don’t forget you can use it to program your own!
Raspberry Pi: One Vision of the Digital Future
With this keyboard-based computer, Raspberry Pi is finally ready for the mass market. And at $70, it’s such an affordable option too. That’s less than some games on Steam! So, try it out for yourself now.
