Raspberry Pi 500 Review: The keyboard is the computer, again

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall Reception

  • Strongly mixed reactions: some call the Pi 500 “mediocre” due to port and storage choices; others see it as “amazing” value as a sub‑$100 usable computer in a nostalgic keyboard form factor.
  • Many expect it to sell well in education / entry‑level markets, even if power users are underwhelmed.

Hardware & Design Choices

  • Heavy criticism of continued use of dual micro‑HDMI despite ample case space and prior user complaints.
  • Board has pads and silkscreen for M.2 NVMe and PoE, but components are unpopulated; seen as teasing future hardware and raising cost now without benefit.
  • Some disappointed it doesn’t use a Compute Module; others argue a dedicated board avoids people stripping CMs and wasting the rest of the unit.
  • Fanless with a large passive heatsink is viewed positively.

Storage & NVMe Debate

  • Many consider lack of a populated M.2 slot the single biggest flaw for a “desktop” device.
  • Arguments:
    • Pro‑NVMe: cheaper per GB than SD, better endurance, big boost for heavier desktop workloads.
    • “SD is fine”: day‑to‑day desktop use is mostly unaffected; NVMe is more about cost than speed.
  • Soldering on the missing NVMe components is technically possible but described as painful and impractical.

Performance & Desktop Viability

  • Pi 5/500 is noticeably faster than Pi 4/400 and usable for web dev and everyday Linux desktop tasks, but far from high‑end ARM or x86.
  • Suitable for lightweight development, education, and hobby work; heavy media or bloated sites still struggle.

Price & Alternatives (N100, Mini PCs, Refurbs)

  • Long subthread comparing Pi 500/5 to:
    • New N100 mini PCs (often 8–16 GB RAM, 256–512 GB SSD) around $120–$200.
    • Very cheap used/refurb Dell/Lenovo small‑form‑factor PCs and laptops.
  • Some argue N100/used x86 “blows it out of the water” for desktop/self‑hosting; others note Pi remains competitive once power use, GPIO, and total kit costs are included.
  • Disagreement over whether N100 systems are “twice as expensive” or roughly equivalent once you price out full Pi kits.

Education, Ecosystem & Developing Countries

  • Strong support for Pi as a standardized, well‑documented platform with rich tutorials, magazines, and add‑ons (GPIO, HATs, cameras, AI modules).
  • Counterpoint from people with experience in developing countries: grassroots adoption there favors second‑hand x86 PCs, laptops, and even old phones; RPis are relatively expensive and niche.
  • Discussion that hardware is the easy part; teacher training and curriculum integration are the bigger bottlenecks.

Monitor & Accessories

  • New Pi monitor is seen as clever for education and wall‑mounted info displays, but panel quality (≈45% gamut) and value are questioned.
  • Some speculate the Pi 500 + monitor hints at a future low‑cost Raspberry Pi laptop with NVMe and higher RAM tiers.

Miscellaneous

  • One report of severe Pi 5 Wi‑Fi connectivity issues; cause unclear.
  • Complaints that the keyboard can’t be used as a generic USB keyboard out of the box.
  • Broader frustration about software bloat shortening the useful life of low‑end hardware.