Raspberry Pi (no, not the edible one, but the cheap computer)

[Ouroboros]

I have a few flash cards set-up, the RaspBMC (ie. XMBC) getting the most burn.

I'm going to try that one too. My understanding it's basically making it into a media center, correct?

Like most here, I remember learning in the old days, using DOS, writing BASIC, etc.

Here's a little story about those old computers. When my second oldest son wanted to learn programming, he at first tried to use visual studio and learn VB.Net and C#. It was extremely hard for him. The learning curve was too steep. Then I let him use my old C64. It took him a week or two and he got it. Then he could go back to visual studio and have a much better understanding of what he was doing and why. There's something about learning your first steps in a simpler environment with less distracting pomp-and-circumstance features.

But I think the RaspBMC set-up could be much more than a toy if I invested a little time into it.
Initial results are surprisingly good, and I'm still pretty much clueless.

Yesterday I was thinking of following project (I'm sure people have done this already, but I haven't looked into it yet): to get one of those old arcade stations and replace the computer with the RPI. Then either make or get games for it. Imagine having your own packman, racing game, etc, in one of those arcades at home. LOL!

---

Edit:

I looked it up, and there are plenty of emulators and games and even controllers to buy and plug-in. How fun!

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I'm going to try that one too. My understanding it's basically making it into a media center, correct?

Exactly. I've been pretty impressed, and that's in Australia, where net speeds suck and lotsa overseas Content is blocked. Would be even easier and better the in the States.

Here's a little story about those old computers. When my second oldest son wanted to learn programming, he at first tried to use visual studio and learn VB.Net and C#. It was extremely hard for him. The learning curve was too steep. Then I let him use my old C64. It took him a week or two and he got it. Then he could go back to visual studio and have a much better understanding of what he was doing and why. There's something about learning your first steps in a simpler environment with less distracting pomp-and-circumstance features.

This was the original point of the Pi...not sure if you're aware of that or not. Professionally, Im a school teacher, though I left it years ago. I still know a lot of teachers, and I'm having some success getting them to consider Pi based projects. So low cost, and being exposed /open makes it a useful teaching tool.
Schools are investing crap loads in iPads (or getting parents to). Kinda has its place, but buy one or two less and et a g bunch of Pis (or similar)

Yesterday I was thinking of following project (I'm sure people have done this already, but I haven't looked into it yet): to get one of those old arcade stations and replace the computer with the RPI. Then either make or get games for it. Imagine having your own packman, racing game, etc, in one of those arcades at home. LOL!

---

Edit:

I looked it up, and there are plenty of emulators and games and even controllers to buy and plug-in. How fun!

Yup...one of my cards runs emulation station, which -is basically a set of different emulators. I got it working easily enough. But my controller setup is off and l haven't had a chance to fix it. Raspbmc is my useful project, game emulation is my stuff around one... my wife is convinced Iam now an Uber-geek

 

[Ouroboros]

This was the original point of the Pi...not sure if you're aware of that or not. Professionally, Im a school teacher, though I left it years ago. I still know a lot of teachers, and I'm having some success getting them to consider Pi based projects. So low cost, and being exposed /open makes it a useful teaching tool.
Schools are investing crap loads in iPads (or getting parents to). Kinda has its place, but buy one or two less and et a g bunch of Pis (or similar)

I haven't looked into the story behind Pi, but that's awesome. I love it. I managed to get both the DOS emulator and the C64 emulator to work. The DOSBox works great, except for performance. You can buy a faster version, it looks like, but I'm okay for now. Jazz Jackrabbit is too slow on it. I tried to overclock it but it kept on hanging up.

Yup...one of my cards runs emulation station, which -is basically a set of different emulators. I got it working easily enough. But my controller setup is off and l haven't had a chance to fix it. Raspbmc is my useful project, game emulation is my stuff around one... my wife is convinced Iam now an Uber-geek

Uber-geeks unite!!!