pi-top: Laptop made from a Raspberry Pi

Lead Image © Benoit Chartron, 123RF.com

A Tough Raspberry

The pi-top turns a Raspberry Pi into a mobile computing device that features a high-resolution display and long battery run times. In everyday use, however, this Rasp Pi laptop comes across as stubborn and in need of some fine tuning.

The Raspberry Pi (Rasp Pi) reduces the size of an entire computer to a format not much larger than a passport. However, the tiny computer usually needs additional equipment, such as a screen display, keyboard, and mouse. The pi-top [1] is a case that provides the Rasp Pi with a display, keyboard, and battery, thus converting the Rasp Pi into a mobile device (Table 1). In addition to the laptop version, the manufacturer also offers the pi-topCEED [2], which does not have an integrated keyboard or battery. This article takes a look at the laptop version of the pi-top.

Delivery Disaster

Ordering the device online is straightforward. The case for the pi-top comes in bright green and a dark gray that actually appears black. Additionally, you have two keyboard layouts to choose from: UK and US English. Currently, the pi-top manufacturer delivers the kit together with a Rasp Pi 3 (RPi3) for $299. If the user already has a suitable Rasp Pi, then it is possible to order the pi-top minus the board for $264.99. The "desktop" model, the pi-topCEED, is much less expensive; it costs $114.99, or $149.99 with a RPi3. However, the pi-topCEED lacks a keyboard and battery because of the way it is constructed.

Payment is accepted by credit card. Shipping to me in Germany (from the UK) cost $35.00, which included customs duties. (If you are ordering from the US, you can avoid overseas shipping and customs charges by ordering the pi-top from Adafruit [3]; see Table 1.) Once the order is placed, you should receive a confirmation email with a link to the order status. Shortly thereafter, you receive a delivery date. Theoretically, this is how the order process is supposed to work. I did not get an email response, which was annoying and led to some confusion about how best to proceed. See the "Chaotic Ordering Process" box. It is a good idea to keep in contact with the manufacturer, if you order from them, to make sure that delivery goes well.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF

Pages: 6

Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Raspberry Pi Geek

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content