Thanks, Bob. Yes, 40something-year-old kid! Sounds as though the pi 4 is more bedded-in than the 400. Pity there isn’t a 40-something Pi.
Lots to chew on, Thanks again, Mike Sent from my iPad > On 20 Nov 2020, at 13:56, Robert Bernecky <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi, Mike, > > I have several Pi machines kicking around my lab, for > various projects. They are simple and super, IMO. > > The Pi 4 B is quite good, I find: 4 cores, two 4K HDMI outputs, > WIFi, and more. It comes in several variants of DRAM, > but I suggest that you just get the 8GB one, as > it gives you some of that inevitably needed elbow room. > DRAM is not upgradable - it's soldered onto the motherboard. > > I just looked at the Pi 400, but it only comes with 4GB DRAM, > at present. Wait for More DRAM, Igor. > > I think the best deal for a newcomer is the Pi 4 Desktop, > which does come in an 8GB version, and it has everything > you need except a monitor - it comes with two HMDI cables, > mouse, & keyboard. Nicely packaged, well documented, > and with enough guts that you can run a [small] web server > on it: > > https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-desktop-kit/?resellerType=home > > In Canada, I ordered an 8GB one of these for $238CAD, > including all taxes and shipping. It arrived at my door two days later, from > these people: > > https://www.buyapi.ca/product/raspberry-pi-4-desktop-kit-8gb/ > > I think the best thing about the Pi for me is the ease with which > anyone can do simple projects involving robotics, computer > vision, electronic and device controls, and the like. The book that comes > with it is a great introduction for the uninitiated > who want to experiment in such areas. Several artists in my community use > Pis, as well as arduinos and such. > > Dyalog APL offers free downloads of their APL interpreter > for the Pi: https://www.dyalog.com/dyalog/raspberry-pi.htm > > I don't know if anybody has ported J to the Pi, but it should > be straightforward, since the Pi runs linux. Ah, this looks > like one: > > https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=248133 > > One of my Pis here has a $50CAD-ish (so-so) camera hooked up to it that I > plan to use for some more work on Convolutional > Neural Nets (CNNs) [Now rebranded as "deep learning"] in APL. > An early paper on the subject is available here, but if you don't have access > to ACM publications, let me know: > > https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3315454.3329960 > > Here's your homework: get him to try out Mathematica, > then write him a one-page Rosetta Stone page of > Mathematica ←→ J, with a few bits showing where APL > and J "just work", without dumb limitations on rank/shape, etc. > > I think the Pi is a great gift to inspire creativity in kids in late > elementary school or later, even if they are 40 years old. > > Bob > >> On 2020-11-19 2:59 p.m., 'Michael Day' via Chat wrote: >> As several J chatterers have mentioned the Raspberry Pi, I'd welcome ideas >> about it >> as a present for our son. He's old enough to know better, in his 40s, but >> persists in >> writing Pascal/C++ code for his job in a smallish S/W outfit, producing & >> maintaining >> software for big Accountancy firms, such as PCW. He enjoys writing 2-3d >> graphics/video >> apps for tablets as a hobby. >> >> I think he must have mentioned the Pi to his Mum a few days ago; she's >> passed the >> baton to me. >> >> I see there are several models out there, and they seem to come in various >> forms, >> from what looks like a Motherboard + through to a complete PC, minus monitor. >> >> J chat has mentioned models up to the Pi 4 B, but there's a Pi 400 PC kit >> out there. Are the >> earlier generations worth looking at? >> >> Bearing in mind that I'm unlikely to persuade him to install J (though he >> might appreciate >> Mathematica which has been mentioned as part of the bundle) : any ideas, >> recommendations, caveats.... >> >> Thanks in advance >> >> Mike >> >> > > -- > Robert Bernecky > Snake Island Research Inc > 18 Fifth Street > Ward's Island > Toronto, Ontario M5J 2B9 > > [email protected] > tel: +1 416 203 0854 > text/cell: +1 416 996 4286 > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
