Ask HN: Raspberry Pi 400 as media PC?

1 points by war1025 5y ago ↗ HN

I'm thinking pretty seriously about getting some sort of media center pc set up for the kids (preschool age) to watch shows on. Currently they have just commandeered my wife's laptop since she uses her phone almost exclusively these days.

Part of me thinks staying with a fully functioning computer is the way to go, and that the new Raspberry pi 400 keyboard pc thing might be a good fit for that.

And then part of me thinks I should just get a roku and call it a day.

Either way I'd have to buy a monitor. I could also just get a smart tv I suppose, but I really don't care for TVs with all the "smarts" built in.

Thoughts?

2 comments

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sigmaprimus 5y ago ↗

Personally, I would go for a RPI4 model B and a wireless keyboard touch pad combo if You are interested in a RPI system. The 400 means you're keyboard is wired to the TV, which for a media center isn't that great.

If you are also having to buy a monitor it might not be a bad Idea to look into black friday laptop deals too as a 400 plus monitor is getting fairky close to the price of a low end acer or asus. Almost all laptops have an hdmi output and far more horsepower than you will get from a Pi.

sigmaprimus 5y ago ↗

#Correction#

After thinking a bit more about the 400, it would be possible to connect a wireless usb keyboard and mouse to it so it would be fine as a media center.