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As a Christmas gift 'for me' that I'd really use to try and do some techie stuff with my kids, so it would need to have fun expansion capabilities with external motors, sensors etc. Can you get them that work with Lego motors?
I don't necessarily need it to come with projects, I'd like to do my own - but the expansion capability I suppose is what's important. If I wanted to make robots I'd either 3D print things or buy myself a milling machine and make stuff that way. My youngest is a bit obsessed with robot dogs so that might be a project worth working on long term.
Any guides or advice?
Raspberry Pi is the "gold standard" IMO because it's the most popular and therefore has the most add-ons/projects/online resources etc. There are other systems such as BBC micro:bit etc some of which are more aimed at kids as the hardware just slots together (a bit like Lego)
I really rate the new Pi 400 (with keyboard). It's great VFM. The only downside is it's quite large obviously so you couldn't physically incorporate it into e.g. a robot. But you can just get another (normal) Pi for that, they're cheap, and keep the 400 for dev work.
You can use Lego motors with them, might have to chop the cables & make your own connectors, plenty of schematics available online although they're expensive & bulky compared to hobby motors that you can purchase quite cheaply e.g eBay so personally I wouldn't bother.
Have you got a 3d printer yet? Definitely worth getting one if not, massively increases the number & ease of potential projects. (You'll want at least one spare Pi so you can build an Octopi web server thing for the printer!) Especially opens the door to loads of affordable robot stuff... loads of resources online (vehicles, robot arms, etc). There is a guy on FB who has a group dedicated to building 3d printed Star Wars droids, everything from microdroids, D-O droid that could probably be done in a couple of weeks to full size robotic R2D2s (some of the videos of those are incredible!)
Maybe of use to you? Some suggestions here from my website of choice on this matter.
https://hackaday.com/2017/10/12/lego-compatible-electronics-kits-everywhere/
A pi zero is what, a fiver? Seems like a decent stocking filler that you could get some mileage out of and then n+1 in future if needed.
I'd go for a full-blown Pi rather than a Zero.
Full Pi is easier to connect stuff to and isn't much more.
Zero doesn't event have the GPIO headers unless you solder them on or buy the pre-soldered version.
Lots of good options here molgrips:
https://shop.pimoroni.com/collections/raspberry-pi
How about a 101 electrical project kit.
Thump had a lot of fun with his, building radios and rain sensors and burning out motors.
Alternatively I'd be looking at Lego MindStorms. An easier interface to learn and play with.
as above, great as they are for specific applications, I wouldn't have a Zero as my first/only Pi. The £5 version doesn't have WiFi/ethernet which will get old very quickly!!
Mindstorms is cool, especially now you can use Python out of the box as previously it was too basic IMO. So expensive though, plus you'll need loads more than comes in the box to anything particularly interesting. A Pi, 3d printer and a job lot of cheap electronics off eBay opens the door to so much more!Alternatively I’d be looking at Lego MindStorms. An easier interface to learn and play with.
For a My First Pi that you're planning on using for motors and the like, I'd get whatever the cheapest full-size Pi is this week so you won't be crying when you blow up the GPIO.
Pi 3 model B and a relay board?'That's what I'm using to control my central heating, very easy to wire up.
This looks interesting.
Might be an option for my very obsolete Mindstorms.
so you won’t be crying when you blow up the GPIO.
A Hat like this also helps
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/explorer-hat
It has buffered 5v tolerant inputs, powered 5v outputs, two motor drivers (200mA), and a nice little prototyping breadboard on top.
I've done a bit of playing with electronics before, I've blown my share of transistors as a kid 🙂
What 3D printer then? Maybe that could be a better gift.