U.K. edtech startup pi-top[1] has a new learn-to-code-and-tinker machine. It’s another modular Raspberry Pi-powered laptop but this time they’ve reduced the number of steps needed to put it together, as well as adding a slider keyboard design so the Qwerty panel can be pulled out to provide access to a rail for mounting and tinkering with electronics.
It’s a neat combination of the original pi-top laptop concept[2] and the lower cost pi-topCeed desktop [3]which has a rail below the screen where add-on electronics can also be attached. (The $150 price-tag on the latter device has made it a popular options for schools and code clubs wanting kit for STEM purposes, according to the startup.)
The new pi-top laptop is pi-top’s most expensive edtech device yet; priced at $319 with a Raspberry Pi 3[4] (or $284.99 without).
But it comes bundled with what the startup is calling an “inventor’s kit” — essentially a pre-picked selection of electronics components to enable a range of hardware DIY projects. Projects it says can be built using this kit include a music synth and the robot (pictured above).
It also says its software includes step-by-step guides describing “dozens of invention pathways” for tinkering and building stuff using the components in the inventor’s kit.
The laptop itself has a 14 inch 1080p LCD color display; comes with an 8GB SD card for storage (and built-in cloud management for additional storage and remote access to data); and battery life that’s slated as good for 8 hours+ use.
As well as tinkerable electronics, the team develops their own OS (called Pi-TopOS Polaris), running on the Raspberry Pi engine powering the hardware, as well as learn to code...
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