DESIGN
The Raspberry Pi 4 is the same basic size and shape as
DOORILWV0RGHO%SUHGHFHVVRUVWKRXJKVLJQL¿FDQWO\
ELJJHUWKDQWKH0RGHO$DQG=HURYHUVLRQV,W¶VD
E\LQFKUHFWDQJOHDQGLWVYDULRXVFRPSRQHQWV
VWLFNXSDERXWLQFKWDOO$PRQJWKRVHFRPSRQHQWV
DUHD%URDGFRPTXDGFRUHSURFHVVRUUXQQLQJDW
*+]IRXU86%7\SH$SRUWVWZRPLFUR+'0,YLGHR
RXWSXWVDJLJDELW(WKHUQHWSRUWDQGUDGLRVIRUDF
:L)LDQG%OXHWRRWK
These are recognizable specs to people shopping for a
new laptop or desktop to use as their main computer.
%XWRWKHUXQLTXHDVSHFWVWRWKH5DVSEHUU\3LKLQWDW
its true identity as a building block for tinkerers and
makers.
7KH¿UVWLVWKHHQHUDO3XUSRVH,QSXW2XWSXW 3,2
KHDGHUDYHUVDWLOHSLQFRQQHFWRUWKDWFDQSRZHUDQG
communicate with virtually anything you might want to
FUHDWHIURPD',<ZHDWKHUVWDWLRQWRDPRWRUIRUD
VPDOOURERW$OORILWVXVHVUHTXLUHDIDLUDPRXQWRI
tinkering to write code and attach hardware like sensors
DQGOLJKWV7DPLQJWKH*3,2FRQQHFWRULVIDURXWVLGH
WKHFRQVXPHU3&XVHFDVH
Raspberry Pi 4
Computer
Desktop Kit
PROS High-quality,
stylish peripherals.
Best-performing
Raspberry Pi yet. Two
video outputs.
CONS Kit is relatively
expensive. Pi 4 board
runs warm when
stressed. Impractical
for use as a consumer
PC without tinkering
and know-how.
BOTTOM LINE It
costs a lot more than
the Pi 4’s bare-board
$35 starting price, but
the Raspberry Pi 4
Computer Desktop
Kit transforms the
latest Pi into a nifty
desktop with minimal
effort. It mostly
succeeds, though a
learning curve
remains.