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Project 8: Getting a New Linux Computer

Raspberry Pi Computer

Want to buy your first Linx computer.

Try the Raspberry Pi Model 4 B with 4 GB ($55 or 2 GB model for $35).

Amazon sells Raspberry Pi kits. I bought the CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter Kit - 4GB RAM in January 2020.

My first Raspberry Pi Model 1 B was purchased in 2012 for $35.

Over the years the Raspberry Pi increased in performance and features. I got the Raspberry Pi model 2 B, 3 B, 3 B+ and Zero W.

To cut cost, I purchased used keyboard, mouse and HDMI monitor at Goodwill stores.

The Raspberry Pi ecosystem is very large with software, forms, books, websites, videos, magazines, etc.

The Raspberry Pi is low cost and is the third largest computer based on units sold after Microsoft Windows PCs and Apple Macs.

Raspberry Pi O/S is Raspbian which is based on Linux Debian. Different O/S are easly installed on different microSD cards to explore different software.

WA9ONY Raspberry Pi Projects

• Raspberry Pi Computer Projects
• Amateur (Ham) Radio Raspberry Pi Computer Projects

WA9ONY YouTube SDR Playlist

Intel NUC 8 Computer

In June 2019 I wanted a high perforemce Linux mini computer for SDR and DSP projects.

I got the

• Intel NUC 8 VR NUC8I7HVK Gaming Mini PC -
• 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8809G CPU up to 4.20 GHz
• 32GB DDR4 Memory
• 4TB (2TB x 2) M.2 Solid State Drive
• AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH Graphics
• 2 HDMI ports (two mimi DisplyPort ports and two Thunderbolt 3 ports can drive 4 more HDMI displays for a total of 6 HDMI monitors)
• USB 3 ports
• Linux Ubuntu

It came with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS installed.

In April 2020 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS was released and the upgrade to it was straight forward. See Project 9: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Upgrade to 20.04 LTS.

The Intel NUC 8 is my primary computer. I rarely use the Apple MacBook or Microsoft Windows 10 computer.

WA9ONY Intel NUC 8 Projects

NUC 8