The introduction of the Raspberry Pi n 2012 was part of a renaissance in hobbyist electronics. Many users who may have been put off by the complex and fragmented ecosystem of homebrew electronic design were able to take advantage of the Pi’s convenient port access and Python-based programming. The Raspberry Pi community has built into a generation of makers who pride themselves on creating <a href="https://all3dp.com/1/best-raspberry-pi-projects/">projects</a> tailored exactly to their own ideas.Jump forward over 10 years and many people are piggy-backing on the initial enthusiasm for Raspberry Pis by using them as the heart of laptops and other portable computing hardware. The goals of these different kits and projects range anywhere from simply providing a portable laptop clamshell to having a portable Pi platform with a wide array of built-in sensors.In this article, we’ll take you through a curated selection of professional and DIY offerings for Raspberry Pi laptops (and other portable computers) that you can buy or build.
The pi-top [4] is conceived as a “portable brain” that can be easily integrated into a variety of projects. It’s tailored specifically toward the maker and education communities, which is evident in the readymade electronics and robotics kits for STEM project-based learning that are advertised alongside the pi-top [4].
In addition to a pre-installed Raspberry Pi 4, a power supply unit, display cable, and an operating system, the pi-top [4] comes with a rugged case loaded with features including a 5-hour internal battery, programmable buttons and screen, integrated heatsink and cooling fan, among others. For the full-on laptop experience, though, a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XDK2FRR?tag=all3dptrx00058-20" target="_blank" data-action="modal-open" data-modal-template="#modal-template-shoplink" rel="nofollow" data-orig-url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XDK2FRR?tag=all3dp0c-20" data-ml-id="1" data-ml="true" data-xid="fr1717337153069fej" data-spot-replaced="1">touch display</a> and Bluetooth keyboard need to be purchased separately. Kits similar to the discontinued pi-top touchscreen and keyboard combo can be found <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B23S36T5?tag=all3dptrx00058-20" target="_blank" data-action="modal-open" data-modal-template="#modal-template-shoplink" rel="nofollow" data-orig-url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B23S36T5?tag=all3dp0c-20" data-ml-id="2" data-ml="true" data-xid="fr1717337153069gha" data-spot-replaced="1">at Amazon</a>.Working with the pi-top [4] is a straightforward experience for users of all skill levels and backgrounds. Utilizing its own <a href="https://www.pi-top.com/resources/download-os?hsLang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noopener noreferrer">pi-top OS</a>, the pi-top [4] comes with all the software you should need out of the box with no additional experience. Check <a href="https://www.pi-top.com/start/pi-top-4" target="_blank" rel=" noopener noreferrer">the pi-top website</a> for videos and documentation, including installation instructions.