Reply to: Anyone else got a Raspberry Pi?

[TheFaQQer]

For a 9 year old would you recommend the kano OS and kit over and above the standard raspberry OS? My assumption is kano is more child friendly to get them started and thereafter they can always wipe kano and get onto what I assume is a more advanced OS?

Standard OS you'll have to look out for things to do and get them installed and set up for them. With kano OS the software is all ready to go - my kids love it because they can get rewards to do things, or they can just play around as they want to.

You don't have to buy the kano kit if you have enough to get it going, but part of the fun is building the case and everything as they start. One thing that my kids struggle with is the touchpad though, so I bought a USB hub and a mouse from the pound shop to make it easier for them.

And when they outgrow kano, you can put any other OS on instead.

[oracleslave]

Get one or two, and download the kano OS from Kano - Make a Computer - it's designed to get kids started, has rewards that they can track online etc. and builds up different things that they do.

We already had a Pi so I just downloaded the OS, but we also bought the kano kit via Kickstarter which came with everything you'd need (apart from a screen) and they had fun building and decorating the new Pi.

Once they've got through the basics, have a look at something like Super Scratch Adventure, or Adventures in Raspberry Pi which are great to give them some more ideas. We also have some Python books which they've not looked at yet.

Even if they never want to use a computer or become a programmer, there are some good skills that programming teaches you whatever course of life you take.

For a 9 year old would you recommend the kano OS and kit over and above the standard raspberry OS? My assumption is kano is more child friendly to get them started and thereafter they can always wipe kano and get onto what I assume is a more advanced OS?

[anonymouse]

Not seen any news on here about this.

Raspberry Pi 3 adds wi-fi and Bluetooth - BBC News

[Churchill]

It was when I realised that I'd have to filter out half my collection to make the project worthwhile that I decided to change gears. There was some very good stuff from the 90s, but the 80s will always be my fave; especially the stuff from the first half of the decade.

You are Eugene Evans in drag and I claim my £5!

[seanraaron]

It was when I realised that I'd have to filter out half my collection to make the project worthwhile that I decided to change gears. There was some very good stuff from the 90s, but the 80s will always be my fave; especially the stuff from the first half of the decade.

[TheFaQQer]

That's harsh. Say post-1995 instead. At least for games running straight on the metal (like Doom/pyDoom). Not tried the MAME emulator though, having said that. Cracks opening in my argument here, so I will gloss over them all by saying all the best games were pre-1985.

I've found plenty that work OK using the MAME emulators that ship with Retropie.

Anything too new will run slowly (but in some games that's an advantage as you can actually think a little bit - particularly if you're a button basher like I am), but some of the classics work fine

Ryu: So, you wanna head to Tappers, Ken?
Ken: If you're buyin' buddy.

[unixman]

...wasn't thrilled with the results of running anything post-1985.

That's harsh. Say post-1995 instead. At least for games running straight on the metal (like Doom/pyDoom). Not tried the MAME emulator though, having said that. Cracks opening in my argument here, so I will gloss over them all by saying all the best games were pre-1985.

[seanraaron]

How do those run on a Raspberry Pi?

I tried one of the MAME builds; wasn't thrilled with the results of running anything post-1985. I think it also could have additional emulators run from a common UI as well. Stella (Atari 2600 EMU) runs like a champ on Raspberry Pi.

[unixman]

The Pi version of Doom, called pydoom IIRC, is easy to install (apt-get install pydoom) and runs fine.

[LondonManc]

How do those run on a Raspberry Pi?

I'd imagine with the right flavour of Linux installed. I'll investigate later.

[TheFaQQer]

WinMAME. Don't bother with the inferior arcade conversions, get the arcade emulator.

PinMAME for pinball

MFME for fruit machines

If you want console stuff, Snes9x for SNES emulation, Spectaculator for Speccy.

I'll dig out a decent set of links this evening.

How do those run on a Raspberry Pi?

[LondonManc]

I'm trying to find a safe download for retro games, any advice?

WinMAME. Don't bother with the inferior arcade conversions, get the arcade emulator.

PinMAME for pinball

MFME for fruit machines

If you want console stuff, Snes9x for SNES emulation, Spectaculator for Speccy.

I'll dig out a decent set of links this evening.

[seanraaron]

I got one as a gift a couple of years ago and couldn't see what to use it for. I was originally going to run MAME on it and then build an arcade controller around it, but the performance was unacceptably poor compared to my MAC for a lot of my games.

It then occurred to me to use it for a home web server as unlike my Mac I'd be more likely to let it run all the time. Useful for keeping a lot of little things on that I want rapid access to; shame I can't get a fixed IP from BT so I can access it when I'm out and about, but I'm hopeful that once everything is switched to IPv6 that will be possible again.

[Churchill]

I'm trying to find a safe download for retro games, any advice?

For which emulator?

Spectrum? Google "World of Spectrum"
BBC?
Apple?
Atari console?
Atari 8 bit?
N64?
Commodore?

[cojak]

I'm trying to find a safe download for retro games, any advice?