[Closed] What RaspberryPi type kit for 13 year old?

The new Pi 400 is lovely.

Maybe a bit ££££ for niece*

*covering all bases

Budget? A Pi is a full computer, can access internet, run a browser etc, is that an issue? What is she interested in: computing in general, programming, gaming, robots, electronics? Will she have anyone to help her (what are their computer skills?) or will she be figuring it out on her own?

Good questions! I was hoping for something in the region of 50 quid but maybe that was unrealistic. I don't know what I'm talking about (!!) but I had in mind that she could in some way be able to learn to write a script to control a robot or some project like that. He parents are both scientists and will presumably be able to help to a good extent.

Alternative ideas also welcome!

Maybe a raspberry pi with a hat of some sort?

For example, there's an air pollution monitoring hat. Might be quite interesting if she lives near a main road.

https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/enviro?variant=31155658489939

(If you add in a raspberry pi, PSU, and a microSD card that will go over your budget a bit).

EDIT: particulate sensor is extra. Maybe getting a bit spendy.

The new Pi 400 is lovely.

Simple "all in one" solution but quite probably more power than is needed and useless if you want to make something that moves!
Personally I think I'd start with a zero (but with the gpio pins fitted).
Really cheap so you could add some sensors (temp etc.) So she could create a monitor that uploads to a dashboard like initialstate.com

Bear in mind that a Pi is just a small, cheap, low powered computer. It's not really something you can do much with without other bits.

If you want something that can execute "if this then that" type programs as a robot perhaps Arduino might be a better platform?

https://www.robotshop.com/uk/arduino-student-kit.html

Then for Christmas?

https://www.robotshop.com/uk/alphabot2-mobile-robot-development-platform-arduino.html

Hmm thanks - maybe Arduino is more what I’m looking for. Then as you say I’ve got future gifts sorted for ever. Until she discovers boys anyway.

a Pi is just a small, cheap, low powered computer.

And the Arduino is more than that? (answer: no it's much less)

A cheap Pi (for example, the Zero W) would allow her to learn and create way more and has a vast worldwide support network. Most importantly, it gives a great introduction to Python through producing real, useful projects.

A simple "pi Robot" search produces an absolute ton of projects.

I got a 3b+ for my son last year off eBay. Great thing. The ££s can add up if you buy SD card, power lead, cables, keyboard, mouse etc. As you said though it gives you add on presents for years to come, our son added a camera for doing stop motions, a bread board an lights etc to Lear basic programming and so on. But if I am being totally honest I think I like it more than him as he (and often me too) does find the programming etc tricky so tends to leave it to me to figure stuff out then just use it once set up which kind of defeated the point of getting it.

I have a Pi and an Arduino. IMHO the latter is better for monitoring and control via I/O.

Pi & Arduino are different, but both great, platforms. TBH you're not going to get anything worth having in terms of the base kit and then a robot kit or hardware project for either in the 50 quid budget!

If she hasn't already got her own computer (and her parents are OK with her having one!) and she has a telly/old monitor to use then the new Pi 400 is a great bit of kit, all you need and comes with a book of projects to work through from setting it up, to coding with a graphical language and then proper Python coding. Obviously double your budget though!! If she gets into it then you can add hardware projects later... either stuff for a specific project or a general electronics project kit from Amazon/eBay etc to learn about LEDS, resistors, sensors etc. Had a flick through MagPi magazine online (it's 5.99 for the paper copy but current & all back issues are available free online as PDF which is awesome) and it actually looks really good, loads of great ideas.

Budget option would be a Pi 3A+, all you need is a suitable PSU, HDMI cable, old keyboard/mouse/telly and a copy of the Raspberry Pi beginner book (also available as a free download!), work through the book to get the hang of the machine & software then add a simple electronics kit like this for loads of LEDS, sensors, etc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freenove-Raspberry-Beginner-Processing-Tutorials/dp/B06WP7169Y/ref=sr_1_6?crid=25XSIKMPKPO5A&dchild=1&keywords=raspberry+pi+electronics+kit&qid=1604841719&sprefix=raspberry+pi+electronnics%2Caps%2C1048&sr=8-6
Not a complete project like a robot etc but lets you actually "do" stuff.

The only thing that sucks about the Pi for beginners is that it's possible to kill it by accidentally shorting certain pins, so if she is plugging stuff into the GPIO pins then make sure she's aware of this & checks the wiring carefully and doesn't just connect up random wires!!!

Arduino is a great platform and I'd agree better for simple robot stuff. It's also cheaper & simpler to get started with. She would need a laptop/PC to program it with though, and you're still looking at over 50 quid (though probably less than 100 all in) for a decent hardware project kit (there are cheaper Arduino car kits etc on Amazon but they look pretty crap). Something like the Arduino MeArm robotic arm kit looks quite good as you can both build and program it, but it's obviously going to be quite feeble & limited in functionality - great for demonstrating things like motors & programming though!

They aren't mutually exclusive either - I've done a few projects using an Arduino to control a Pi and vice-versa. You can load the Arduino IDE onto the Pi and use that as a dev machine which is cool! So it's not necessarily a case of going with one platform over the other!

Thanks for all the answers - much appreciated. Now I am thinking I will have to bite the bullet and get a pi kit like the 400. Or maybe get her a Barbie ....