Complex GPIO? Arduino is still a cheap option if you dont need it too standalone.
Straight up pi-alikes? OrangePi is my preferred
Most of what I personally use is esp32s and tiny/mini/micro. TMM for servers and services, esp32s for sensors, interfaces, prototyping, etc. If I need something fully standalone thats going to go in a rack or whatever, needs to be small and have all the GPIO, thats where I’ll use an orangpi, clockwork, whatever. Ive even used a tinkerboard or a Jetson (client paying obviously, because screw those prices and nvidia).
It really depends though, if you want to do analog in or out, relay control, or use existing hats, you are bought/forced into the ecosystem. If you are just using it as a small computer, yeah roll with whatever. To me, it’s always occupied the void between an arduino and a sffpc or when I wanted to do compute and analog/digital control on something.
Orangepi and other “clones” often use rockchip on their boards which isn’t as well supported as Raspberry equivalent so it’s not direct replacement. Also their supported lifespan is often much less than rpi.
Armbian works on most, if not all, raspberry pi compatible boards. I meant that support from vendor is often a lot shorter than from raspberry and it can cause problems/bugs with bootloaders and drivers unless vendor is actively working with armbian/kernel development for their chipset.
What are some alternatives?
Price? Tiny/mini/micro PC
Simple sensor use? ESP32
Complex GPIO? Arduino is still a cheap option if you dont need it too standalone.
Straight up pi-alikes? OrangePi is my preferred
Most of what I personally use is esp32s and tiny/mini/micro. TMM for servers and services, esp32s for sensors, interfaces, prototyping, etc. If I need something fully standalone thats going to go in a rack or whatever, needs to be small and have all the GPIO, thats where I’ll use an orangpi, clockwork, whatever. Ive even used a tinkerboard or a Jetson (client paying obviously, because screw those prices and nvidia).
At that price point, a mini PC. Look at Dell or Lenovo, they make super small form factor computers that will blow a Pi out of the water.
It really depends though, if you want to do analog in or out, relay control, or use existing hats, you are bought/forced into the ecosystem. If you are just using it as a small computer, yeah roll with whatever. To me, it’s always occupied the void between an arduino and a sffpc or when I wanted to do compute and analog/digital control on something.
Or want a computer that can be powered via PoE.
Thanks!
Orange pi 5?
Orangepi and other “clones” often use rockchip on their boards which isn’t as well supported as Raspberry equivalent so it’s not direct replacement. Also their supported lifespan is often much less than rpi.
your right but doesnt Armbian exist for OSES? and i never knew their lifespans are short
Armbian works on most, if not all, raspberry pi compatible boards. I meant that support from vendor is often a lot shorter than from raspberry and it can cause problems/bugs with bootloaders and drivers unless vendor is actively working with armbian/kernel development for their chipset.
Yeah I see
That looks like a similar price point.
Yeah but iirc its faster then the rpi 5
Good deal.