Since Matilda has already been exposed to desktop computers, I thought it would be a good idea to teach her about portable computers, drivers, and carbon footprints while learning to control all of those with code. There are tons of options with an eco-friendly footprint; however, the following list is both low-cost, low power, small footprint, and low-heat. I've listed the hardware I chose for her lessons with a brief explanation of why each piece was selected:
- Raspberry Pi 4 Desktop Kit / 8GB $140
- extremely low power consumption (can run off a solar panel)
- low heat production / small footprint
- great for coupling with a robot/drone
- dual 4k monitor support
- has integrated wifi 2.4/5GHz and bluetooth
- includes a fully-installed linux OS
- comes with a mouse + keyboard w/integrated USB hub
- version 4B is 64-bit + quad core (insane)
- Elecrow 10.1 inch 1080p IPS Monitor $115
- fully encapsulated portable screen (most are floating screens with exposed prongs)
- uses an extremely bright IPS screen
- does NOT include a touchscreen (longer life)
- extremely low power consumption (can run from USB using a $7 adapter)
- uses native 1080p HDMI resolution and has integrated speakers
- [best of all] all the connections are hidden in a cavity behind the screen
- ROMOSS 30000mAh Rechargeable Power Bank $35
- affordable while providing hours of power
- easily recharged using even a tiny 6W solar backpack panel
- includes USB2.0, Type-C, and higher voltage USB 3.0 fast-charge ports.
- has a visual indicator that displays battery level
All items booted up properly. No dead pixels showed up on the screen (yay). All items ran directly from power bank without requiring any wall adapters. Daughter digs the raspberry colored cables on the keyboard and mouse (phew).
| Measured Emitter | Watts/hour | kg of CO2/year |
|---|---|---|
| Current Desktop | 400 | 350 |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | 3.4 | 16.5 |
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