The history of personal computing sometimes follows quite astonishing cyclical paths. In the 1980s, the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and other Amstrad CPCs had popularized the concept of computer integrated into the keyboardmaking computing more accessible to the general public.
Forty years later, the Raspberry Pi foundation is reappropriating this approach with the Raspberry Pi 500evolution of the 400 model launched in 2020. Faithful 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: rebirth of a pioneering concept
All the components of the Pi 500 are ingeniously integrated into the body of a mechanical keyboard. This all-in-one architecture eliminates the need for a separate enclosure, reducing the footprint to a minimum. Simply connect a monitor, mouse and power supply to have a complete IT system.
The heart of the system is based on a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4 GHz, associated with 8 GB of RAM. This configuration, offered for pre-order at 112.80 euros on the Kuubi reseller website represents quite a significant technological leap compared to its predecessor. The graphics system, too, is progressing, with a VideoCore VII GPU clocked at 800 MHz, capable of simultaneously managing two 4K screens at 60 Hz via its micro HDMI ports.
At the connectivity level, the Pi-500 is quite generous : two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and a 40-pin GPIO connector for electronic projects. Wireless communications are provided 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.
A coherent hardware ecosystem
To accompany this new model, it will obviously need a screen; raspberry designed one especially 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 stand. Its power supply can be directly provided by the Raspberry Pi 500, subject to a limitation of 60% of the brightness and 50% of the sound volume. On the other hand, the use of a dedicated power supply allows you to fully exploit its capabilities.
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 without breaking your budget, 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, from 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.
