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Thread: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

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    News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    It also uses 45 per cent less power than a Model B+. It's on sale now for $20/£15.
    Read more.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Only 1 usb port is a bit of a strange one. Once you've plugged in a wireless adaptor thats it. The only way this is practical is if using a powered USB hub with the Pi powered from it. Think the B+ with 4 USB's and ethernet offers better value IMHO.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    I had to use a powered hub with the model B to reliably use several devices at once anyway. I wonder if they'll end up moving to a better CPU eventually, like introducing a model C or something.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by marshalex View Post
    Only 1 usb port is a bit of a strange one. Once you've plugged in a wireless adaptor thats it. The only way this is practical is if using a powered USB hub with the Pi powered from it. Think the B+ with 4 USB's and ethernet offers better value IMHO.
    I wouldn't say it's strange at all, because you even said it your self - there's a the B+ if the extra ports are needed.

    I think the A+ is great, there are a number of applications I can think off of the top of my head that wouldn't even need USB ports at all, made better by the fact the A+ is smaller, lighter, consumes less power and has useable stand off holes!

    EDIT: And it's much cheaper compared to other models, less to worry about if it gets lost on the way to the upper atmosphere or forgetting which tree it had been strapped to.
    Last edited by DDY; 10-11-2014 at 02:06 PM.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by Badbonji View Post
    I had to use a powered hub with the model B to reliably use several devices at once anyway. I wonder if they'll end up moving to a better CPU eventually, like introducing a model C or something.
    I think a "Pi 64" would fit well with the 1980's naming scheme, and a 64 bit upgrade would be what it takes to get me interested in one of these. They were always underpowered, had they been another tenner and more powerful I would have bought one.

    Though I think what I really want is an ITX format board with a DRAM dimm socket or two so it is upgradable.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by marshalex View Post
    Only 1 usb port is a bit of a strange one. Once you've plugged in a wireless adaptor thats it.
    Does seem a bit strange, looking at the board itself it looks like there's enough room for two usb ports side by side, whilst keeping the size/height.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by failquail View Post
    Does seem a bit strange, looking at the board itself it looks like there's enough room for two usb ports side by side, whilst keeping the size/height.
    The Broadcom SoC that every Pi model is centred around only has one USB port and no LAN connection, for additional ports, models B and B+ feature a 3 and 5 port USB hub respectively, plus a USB to LAN controller.

    All that added together, the additional USB ports, USB hub, Ethernet connector and USB-LAN controller, significantly adds to the cost, size and power consumption. Hence, for the applications that don't require that capability there's no need to waste money or power on the additional components.

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    This looks more than ever like an embedded computer that can be used as its own programming platform. It is now small and light enough to be used in model aircraft or boats, perhaps using a Bluetooth dongle as a radio control from a mobile phone, and this is a place where the lower power consumption would be highly welcome.

    I wonder if servos can be driven directly off of the GPIO?

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian224 View Post
    I wonder if servos can be driven directly off of the GPIO?
    The RPi's GPIOs can all do PWM and can control servos, although the Pi's PWM isn't the best and if you're after really smooth motion you'll need a seperate PWM driver.
    Last edited by DDY; 11-11-2014 at 01:26 AM. Reason: 5th edit, I think it makes sense now. Bed time...

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by DDY View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by failquail View Post
    Does seem a bit strange, looking at the board itself it looks like there's enough room for two usb ports side by side, whilst keeping the size/height.
    The Broadcom SoC that every Pi model is centred around only has one USB port and no LAN connection, for additional ports, models B and B+ feature a 3 and 5 port USB hub respectively, plus a USB to LAN controller.

    All that added together, the additional USB ports, USB hub, Ethernet connector and USB-LAN controller, significantly adds to the cost, size and power consumption. Hence, for the applications that don't require that capability there's no need to waste money or power on the additional components.
    Ah okay, that makes more sense then. I assumed the SoC had at least 2 internal ports, just 1 seemed a strange number

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    Re: News - Raspberry Pi Model A+ is smaller, thinner, cheaper

    Quote Originally Posted by failquail View Post
    Ah okay, that makes more sense then. I assumed the SoC had at least 2 internal ports, just 1 seemed a strange number
    Most phones/tablets only have 1 USB connector, so it makes sense.

    Modern entry level chips still seem to have just one port, though MediaTek do make it a single USB3 port.


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