[Project] Build yourself a Mini-PC

My dearest Adia,

Now you have a free time during your school holiday, it would be a good time to start a project (yaaay!!). If you read this, it means you have received my package for your “build-a-PC-kit” (PC stands for Personal Computer). After you assemble it, you can have a mini-PC capable of doing your school task and “more” (we’ll get to this later).

Okay my dear, in the package you’ve received, there will be :
1x Raspberry Pi board (this is the hardware – the main board and processor for your mini-PC)
1x 16 GB mini-SD card (this is the storage, contains the system and software for your mini-PC)
1x Standard Case (so your mini-PC wouldn’t be bare-naked)
1x Power adaptor (to power your mini-PC), with on/off switched power socket
1x HDMI cable (to connect your mini-PC to display / LED TV)
1x Mini wireless keyboard with touchpad as input device for your mini-PC

Now, here’s the guide to build your first Mini-PC :

1. Prepare the Raspberry Pi Board, get it out of its box. As you can see, I’ve attached additional heat sinks to its processor & chipset (the heat sink helps to reduce heat in its operation). Semiconductors (Processors, Chipsets, etc) will produce heat while used in computing.

2. Get the micro-SD card, install it to the Raspberry Pi board (simply insert the card to the Micro-SD slot under the board). I’ve pre installed the card with an “Operating System” called Raspbian. It contains many useful apps you can explore to do various tasks.

3. Put the board in the case. You have to put it carefully (don’t force it, we don’t want to break the board). When you put it in the right place, it will fit perfectly. After it sits perfectly in the case, you need to use screwdriver to tighten the screws. This is a “basic” case for your Raspberry Pi board, there are many “cute” cases available, you can search or customize it later (just ask your mom). When you’ve completed this part, the next will be to get it run.

4. Take the mini wireless keyboard. Open the back cover of the keyboard, now you see there’s a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery (let it sit there peacefully), and a USB “dongle”. Get the USB dongle, and put it in one of the USB-slot in your mini-PC. Don’t forget to put back the back-cover of your keyboard device. The mini keyboard has an on-off switch aon the top-right side. There’s a blue light indicates the device is “On”, you can charge this device using a regular smartphone charger (via mini-usb port).

5. Connect your mini-PC to the display (you can use any LED/LCD TV or PC monitors with HDMI). Use the HDMI cable to connect. Ask your mom if the HDMI slot in your TV is out of your reach. Set your TV input to the HDMI slot where you’ve plugged the mini-PC in.

6. Plug in the power adapter to your mini-PC, if everything’s all set, switch it on, your mini-PC will start booting right away. If you see the Raspbian running in your display, and you can operate it with your wireless keyboard, then congratulation, you’ve build yourself a mini-PC! (note: Shut down the OS / Raspbian first before swith-off the power)

Now feel free to explore the use of the mini-PC by yourself. You can do many things with it, connect to internet, use it to study, install/uninstall any other programs / “apps” (short for applications), and even you can turn the mini-PC to any other specific function (weather detector, robot controller, internet of things devices, etc). We’ll get into that in a separate articles 🙂

Please keep in mind, don’t be afraid in doing mistakes, especially in a learning process. Mistakes are also part of the process in making progress.

Let’s see what would be good for the next project
Enjoy your holiday

Love, Abah.