<div dir="ltr">A Raspberry Pi is undoubtedly a great learning tool, but a poor choice if your son wants to be able to play video games on his computer.</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 11:11 AM Robert Heller via Hidden-discuss <<a href="mailto:hidden-discuss@lists.hidden-tech.net">hidden-discuss@lists.hidden-tech.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Rather then build a x86 PC flavored machine, you might want to steer him<br>
towards a Raspberry Pi. Not only will the Raspberry Pi be well within his<br>
budget -- the base P4 w/2G is $35, and a complete (except for monitor) P400<br>
kit (the P400 is a P4 inside a keyboard, and the kit includes a mouse, power<br>
supply, and uSD card) is $100, it will come with far more learning tools than<br>
a standard MS-Windows machine -- a Raspberry Pi will include a C compiler,<br>
Python, Scratch, and Sonic Pi (and yes, it will also have LibreOffice and<br>
Minecraft). Oh, P400 kit includes an actual *book*, the ultimate learning<br>
tool.<br>
<br>
I don't know if there are any local resources for any sort of computer parts,<br>
other than things like keyboards, monitors, and mice ("locally" available from<br>
Walmart or Target, etc.). The OEMs and Amazon, NewEgg, eBay, and big box<br>
stores have pretty much killed any sort of mom-n-pop PC parts vendors and eBay<br>
has probably killed any sort of local technology flea market. And least here<br>
in the local area. I don't know about Springfield or Boston. Even Radio Shack <br>
died off and the Radio Shack clone/replacements died off.<br>
<br>
At Mon, 21 Jun 2021 10:57:39 -0400 Noah Paessel <<a href="mailto:knowuh@gmail.com" target="_blank">knowuh@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> <br>
> Hello Hidden Tech,<br>
> <br>
<br>
> My son, age 12, has expressed interest in assembling his own PC this summer.<br>
> Instead of buying new parts from Amazon or NewEgg, I want to persuade him to<br>
> purchase used components or new parts from a local vendor.<br>
> <br>
> Is there a technology flea market or swap that happens in the valley?<br>
> Barring that, are there any mom-n-pop PC part vendors in the area that you<br>
> like?<br>
> <br>
> His goal is to have a machine he can play games on, but I hope to use that<br>
> as the bait for an authentic learning experience. I welcome any tips on how<br>
> to enrichen this summer project for him.<br>
> <br>
> Thanks!<br>
> <br>
> — Noah<br>
> <br>
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<br>
-- <br>
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</blockquote></div>