The Mouse that Roared
The C.H.I.P. is a cute little thing, but don't let appearances fool you: It is quite the beast deep down, and you can squeeze some seriously fun projects out of it.
Exploring the tiny $9 C.H.I.P. computer
Lead Image © Denis Barbulat, 123RF.com
At less than half the size and a third of the price of the Raspberry Pi (Rasp Pi), the tiny C.H.I.P. computer packs quite a punch. C.H.I.P. comes equipped with a 1GHz Alwinner R8 processor. The C.H.I.P. board has had WiFi and Bluetooth support longer than the Rasp Pi. C.H.I.P. has 512MB of RAM and, instead of using an SD or a microSD card, it relies on 4GB of on-board flash memory to store the operating system and files, which means that the operating system and the firmware are one and the same. This design has its own set of consequences – some good, and some tricky.
On one hand, C.H.I.P. boots very quickly and is less prone to the operating system corruption that has plagued the Rasp Pi. On the other, you can't just download the operating system and copy it onto a memory card. Instead, you have to go through the slightly more complex (and scary) process of "flashing." But, don't worry, the creators of C.H.I.P. have developed a graphic tool that make the process much easier.
As for ports, the C.H.I.P. has one USB Micro B connector. That's the same kind of USB connector you'll find on your phone or to power the Rasp Pi. As with the Pi, you would usually use this port to provide power for the C.H.I.P. However, since you can also power the C.H.I.P. through the pin headers or a battery, you can use the USB port for different things. By default, connecting C.H.I.P.'s micro USB to a computer will create a USB Serial connection, so you can access C.H.I.P. with a screen or cu session in a terminal. With Linux kernel modifications, it is possible to enable the USB for other uses, such as an Ethernet bridge.
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