Raspberry Pi 500: a complete PC in a keyboard for less than €300

© Raspberry Pi

The history of personal computing sometimes follows some pretty surprising cyclical paths. In the 1980s, the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and other Amstrad CPCs had popularized the concept of a computer integrated into the keyboard, making computing more accessible to the general public.

Forty years later, the Raspberry Pi Foundation is reappropriating this approach with the Raspberry Pi 500, an evolution of the 400 model launched in 2020. True to the price positioning of its other products, such as the Raspberry Pi 5 or the Compute Module 5, the Pi 500 is complete and very affordable.

The Keyboard Computer: A Pioneering Concept Reborn

All of the Pi 500's components are ingeniously integrated into the body of a mechanical keyboard. This all-in-one architecture eliminates the need for a separate case, reducing the footprint to a minimum. Simply connect a display, mouse, and power supply and you've got a complete computing system.

The heart of the system is a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4 GHz, paired with 8 GB of RAM. This configuration, , is available for pre-order at 112.80 euros on the Kuubi reseller website represents a huge technological leap compared to its predecessor. The graphics system also progresses, with a VideoCore VII GPU clocked at 800 MHz, capable of simultaneously managing two 4K screens at 60 Hz via its micro HDMI ports.

In terms of connectivity, the Pi-500 is quite generous: two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port, a Gigabit Ethernet socket and a 40-pin GPIO connector for electronic projects. Wireless communications are handled by 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, while a 32GB microSD card pre-installed with the custom Debian operating system (a Linux distribution) completes the package.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Subscribe to Presse-citron

A coherent hardware ecosystem

To accompany this new model, it will obviously need a screen; Raspberry has designed one specifically for the Pi 500 for 144 euros. The latter, 15.6 inches, has a Full HD IPS panel, integrates 1.2 W speakers and an adjustable support. Its power supply can be directly provided by the Raspberry Pi 500, for a fee a limitation of 60% brightness and 50% volume. On the other hand, using a dedicated power supply allows its full capabilities to be exploited.

The manufacturer also offers a complete kit for 144 euros including, in addition to the keyboard-computer, a micro HDMI to HDMI mouse, a 27 W USB-C power supply and the official guide to get started. The Pi 500 is clearly aimed at a fairly wide audience: beginners wishing to discover the world of computing or experienced developers looking for a powerful and affordable tool. If you want to learn to code, discover the principles of electronics, create intelligent control systems for your home or simply indulge in retro-gaming, the Pi-500 proves to be a prime candidate. All this without breaking the bank, since for 288 euros you will have a perfectly operational system: unbeatable.

• The Raspberry Pi 500 integrates all the components of a computer into a compact and affordable keyboard, starting at 85 euros.
• Equipped with an Arm Cortex-A76 processor, 8 GB of RAM, it is capable of managing two 4K screens.
• A complete kit with mouse, screen, power supply and guide is available for around 220 dollars.

📍 To not miss any Presse-citron news, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.

[ ]