> But it doesn't really do much that you couldn't also do with a PC
the big thing you are missing is that PI can be used for electronics and robotics- it has GPIO, SPI and I2C accessible from python, javascript, etc.
this was unheard of previously - if you buy a normal PC or even an industrial SBC, even when the pins are exposed they are often 1.8 volts, which is impossible to work with for a hobbyist. The binsings are usually some unusable C header file.
all the people who could plug in Kinect and make a robot that navigates a 3d environment would be stuck without a pi
I think this captures it. The key feature that differentiates the (non-pico) Pi from a desktop PC is the included GPIO header, and associated hardware buses. Price and size are also factors.
the big thing you are missing is that PI can be used for electronics and robotics- it has GPIO, SPI and I2C accessible from python, javascript, etc.
this was unheard of previously - if you buy a normal PC or even an industrial SBC, even when the pins are exposed they are often 1.8 volts, which is impossible to work with for a hobbyist. The binsings are usually some unusable C header file.
all the people who could plug in Kinect and make a robot that navigates a 3d environment would be stuck without a pi