To say that the Raspberry Pi has been quite the hit since the debut of the original version of this credit card-sized computer in 2012 would be quite the understatement. It may have been conceived with the aim of supporting the teaching of computer science in schools and developing countries, but an entire ‘maker culture’ has sprung up around this marvellous little device.
However, if there’s one small downside to the Raspberry Pi (or maybe that should be a massive upside?), it’s that you can’t do a huge amount with it in its most basic form.
Accessories are in many ways the name of the game with the Raspberry Pi, so we thought we’d take a closer look at just some of those we really think you should purchase.
Premium Raspberry Pi Zero Case
Given the Raspberry Pi’s status as a completely unprotected circuit board, it’s fair to say that a case should be one of the first accessories you buy for yours.
So, we decided to have a browse of one of our favourite places to shop for all things Raspberry Pi – The Pi Hut – and while there were some pretty smart-looking cases on offer, if you forced us to pick the one we liked best, we’d go for the Premium Raspberry Pi Zero Case.
Designed and manufactured for one of the most recently introduced versions of the Raspberry Pi, this case is professional in appearance, having been fully injection moulded. It consists of a three-part clip together construction with a Micro SD card cover and embossed Raspberry Pi Foundation logo, and it’s also drop-resistant. Oh, and it’ll only set you back £5.
Official Raspberry Pi WiFi Adapter
Given the general emphasis that devices like the Raspberry Pi place on giving budding programmers the platform they need and then leaving them to get on with it, you might be surprised to learn that there’s even such thing as an official Raspberry Pi range of accessories.
Well, there is, and this official Raspberry Pi WiFi dongle is an obvious essential. Although predictably tiny, it’s easy to use and set up, saving you the hassle of dealing with a load of messy wires to connect your Raspberry Pi to your network.
Official Raspberry Pi Projects Book (Volume 1)
Whether you’re a seasoned programmer with the Raspberry Pi or you have never embarked on a coding project before, it’s always handy to have one of these lying around. It’s the first volume of the highly trusted official projects book for the device, and it’s packed with great guides, tips and walkthroughs.
But don’t take our word for it – listen to those who have actually used it. As one reviewer back at one of our preferred haunts, The Pi Hut commented: “This book made me more than just a novice. I learned a lot more than I thought I would. Everyone interested in Raspberry Pi should have this book.”
HQ Braided MicroUSB Cable – 1M
While we were over at The Pi Hut, we also couldn’t help but notice these gorgeous-looking things, available in an assortment of bold colours and each measuring one metre, or three-and-a-half feet long. These MicroUSB cables are instant classics that are also very practical accessories for use with your Raspberry Pi.
Has all of the above whetted your appetite and got you wondering about the breadth of projects on which you can embark with a Raspberry Pi? If so, pay a visit to the official website of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, where you will be able to find a deeper well of resources to inspire you.
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