Help in purchasing a basic raspberry pi

[bubbaearle]

I'm running a BeeLink computer connected to the HDMI of my TV. I have VPN software installed and it acts as a media server. It's essentially a regular laptop squeezed into a tiny case. Costs more than the basic R Pi, but comes with a lot more capability, including a fairly perky processor.. a sizeable hard drive and a fair bit of onboard memory. They run Windows 11 or Linux.. Mine came with Win 11 installed.

This isn't the one I have, but it's similar: https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-Intel-N100-Computer-Desktop-Display/dp/B0BVFS94J5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CZEUABASTXJD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tGWdm_eaW6VGlsC1mwfqANzWKfhCDlzeAqdgbI8_x9zuOCkgKuRF07mP8kaczw_LhrOlQHD1dyhBtkC1zu-IUD_oXVMZsn1ASbUZfrgWSj4fKcxR1rky5R8__Mw0N9bEK_AEKdoIac-KUJWTfjvMwTdK0KKijvv3vyDT9vIgQR_7ZeJ-apahlJtGUMkYyXwuZp23ozaieVaViwEQp4NeXqSur_8Ahvq6re4aR4UKfek.zGLIKITgrowSpIQd5c5KpeKAAO65FVuGxldJyQyrWmQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=bee+link&qid=1750612664&sprefix=bee+link,aps,122&sr=8-1&th=1

I have two of these mini PC's. One in the living room running as a media server & to stream movies online & the other connected to two monitors that I run my scanner programming software on.

I also have two Pi 5's & two Pi 4's I use for SDR listening / tinkering.

The BeeLink mini PC seems to be pretty solid so far for my uses. When Windows 11 gets too bloated & slow they'll run Linux just fine I think.....as long as the hardware hold up. Far better value than a Raspberry Pi for the computing power.

 

[BinaryMode]

I asked this before elsewhere, What is the benefit of using a raspberry pi over a amazon windows 11 laptop???? the price compares!!!!

The architecture for x86-64 will blow away the architecture of ARM64. On the other hand, Pi's are great for a lot of niche use cases and the radio hobby. You could use a Pi to surf the Internet and probably do some office oriented Apping though. Again, I'd place the Pi OS on a small thumb nail size USB drive and not use the SD card. SD cards are very, very slow and you'll have nothing but a slow, frustrating experience.

 

[KQ4ZVY]

I have a Pi... 3? I think? running OSMC as a media center and let me tell you that thing struuuuuuuuugles. It is really not meant to run a desktop environment. I tried to install sdr++ on it and it couldn't run that AND the desktop environment at the same time, it runs out of memory. You certainly can make it work though, and I assume the Pi5s are much better hardware wise than the unit I have. It's not that hard to set up and the unit is very compact.