The CrowPi L is a Raspberry Pi-powered laptop computer constructed to coach, interact and entertain younger minds and usher them into the world of programming and electronics. It incorporates enjoyable actions and interactive classes to show youngsters the right way to code. The package consists of a lot of tutorials to try to a variety of tasks that will enchantment to a wide range of totally different pursuits. From classes on the right way to design and program video games, to hands-on tasks that specify digital ideas and the way circuitry works, there’s loads for youths to be taught and revel in.
Beginning at $239 (presently on sale for $203 (opens in new tab)), the CrowPi L comes with a USB wi-fi mouse, a 32 GB microSD card loaded with the customized OS, academic software program, and a customized GPIO growth defend for {hardware} tasks.
Pricing and Availability
The CrowPi L is on the market in a couple of totally different configurations. You’ll be able to select from the essential mannequin or superior mannequin, which prices about $60 extra as a result of it consists of the Crowtail Starter Equipment for Raspberry Pi. Shipped in a separate field, this package incorporates the totally different motors and sensors you have to for the Letscode (Elecrow’s customized model of the Scratch programming language) and Python {hardware} tasks.
The laptop computer solely is available in matte white, however you’ve gotten an choice of getting both a white or black keyboard. On Elecrow’s web site, you even have the choice so as to add both a Raspberry Pi 4 4GB or 8 GB to the acquisition, must you not have your individual.
Our evaluation pattern was a complicated mannequin which got here with a white keyboard and the Crowtail Starter Equipment however didn’t embody a Raspberry Pi.
We must always observe that the CrowPi L is just not appropriate with Raspberry Pi 3 or older, so in the event you should not have a Raspberry Pi 4 then you will need to embody it as an add-on (or purchase one elsewhere). The corporate claims to have included this feature to assist through the chip scarcity. The worth of the Raspberry Pi 4 remains to be method above its authentic MSRP, however Elecrow’s web site sells it less expensive than Amazon (opens in new tab) proper now.
| Primary Mannequin | Advance Mannequin | |
|---|---|---|
| With out Raspberry Pi | $239* | $299 |
| Add Raspberry Pi 4B – 4GB | $145 | $145 |
| Add Raspberry Pi 4B – 8GB | $157 | $157 |
*Elecrow is presently providing a 15% low cost from their web site, bringing down essentially the most fundamental mannequin to ~$200.
Design of the CrowPi L
Whereas the earlier variations of the CrowPi got here filled with built-in modules, the CrowPi L’s design has been simplified to appear to be a daily laptop computer. It has an all-white exterior with a lightweight grey inside that surrounds the 11.6-inch show and white keyboard keys. It’s a compact system that appears modern and will properly double up as a baby’s first laptop computer.
At 11.46 x 7.5 x 1.8 inches, the CrowPi L is simply the appropriate dimension to suit on a baby’s lap and is mild sufficient (at just a little over 2 kilos) for them to hold round. The plastic chassis feels very robust and strong. However it isn’t a quiet system. You’ll be able to hear the fan buzzing beneath so it’s important to watch out to not put it in a spot that may hinder the airflow.
Distinctive to the CrowPi L is the 40-pin GPIO port slot situated on the appropriate facet of the laptop computer. That is the place you connect the customized growth defend you should use for all of the {hardware} programming tasks within the package. It’s a cool characteristic however sadly solely helpful in the event you improve to the superior mannequin, buy the Crowtail package individually, or plan to do your individual electronics tasks utilizing jumper cables.
The CrowPi L additionally has an HDMI port which you should use to connect one other monitor for extra display screen actual property. I discovered this to be a really helpful characteristic for the reason that tutorials themselves take up half the area of the display screen and you might be left with such a tiny area for the coding apps. That is very true for the Letscode app which makes use of drag-and-drop blocks to code. I discovered myself consistently utilizing the slider on the backside to see the blocks.
And though it isn’t meant to be a robust productiveness laptop computer, you’ll be able to nonetheless use the CrowPi L to carry out common duties akin to shopping the web, writing paperwork, watching movies on YouTube, or becoming a member of video convention calls. There are additionally pre-installed video games you can play at your leisure.
Keyboard on CrowPi L
The CrowPi L has a built-in keyboard you can customise with both black or white keys. Our pattern got here with white keys. The format of the keyboard with the tiny trackpad positioned above the keys proved to be greater than an inconvenience and oftentimes an annoyance. That is the place the included wi-fi USB mouse was not solely helpful however crucial so as to use the laptop computer effectively.
Show on the CrowPi L
The CrowPi L has an 11.6-inch IPS display screen with 1366 x 768 decision. Though some Chromebooks just like the Samsung Chromebook 4 have the identical decision show, it looks like a step down from CrowPi2’s 1080p show. The display screen decision was enough after we adopted together with coding classes, however extra actual property for apps and code would have been useful.
LIke all Raspberry Pi-powered gadgets, taking part in YouTube movies could be a little frustraing. We observed lag when streaming movies and 720p. We additionally tried watching a livestream of The Pi Forged at 1080p and skilled occasional stuttering on the display screen, and in addition had audio and video sync issues particularly after we tried to observe the video in full display screen.
Battery on the CrowPi L
The CrowPi L comes with a built-in battery that ought to final for 3 hours. In comparison with common laptops at present, that’s not a really lengthy battery life, however it is sufficient to attempt an exercise or two with out being plugged in to the wall. We did discover that the battery lasted about three hours (generally longer) after we have been solely utilizing it for going by way of the varied classes and tutorials. Naturally, the battery didn’t final as lengthy after we used it to observe movies on YouTube or after we have been utilizing an exterior monitor. Try to be plugged in when doing these actions anyway.
Software program/Working Programs on the CrowPi L
Accessing two working programs on MicroSD playing cards, swappable by way of the toggle change, is handy and supplies further storage entry if desired.
Along with the included customized OS CrowPi L helps different OSes together with Raspbian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Home windows IOT, Kali, Pidora, ArchLinux, FreeBSD, Kodi, OpenWrt, RISC OS, RetroPie, LAKKA, Recalbox, LibreELEC, and OSMC.
Specs
| Compatibility | Appropriate with Raspberry Pi 4B 4GB or 8GB |
| Show | 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 decision, IPS display screen |
| Networking | Raspberry Pi ethernet port |
| Ports | Proper Facet: HDMI, 40-pin GPIO port, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Left Facet: Ethernet Port, 3x Raspberry Pi USB ports | |
| Digital camera | 2MP digital camera with built-in microphone |
| Battery | Constructed-in 5V USB-C |
| Energy Adapter | 12V DC |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 291 x 190 x 46mm (11.46 x 7.5 x 1.8 inches) |
| Weight | 1.1kg (2.4 kilos) |
| Guarantee 1 Yr |
Meeting
As soon as you are taking the CrowPi L out of the field, the very first thing that you’ll want to do is set up your Raspberry Pi. As beforehand talked about, the CrowPi L is simply appropriate with Raspberry Pi 4 fashions, which you’ll order along with your package in the event you don’t have already got one helpful. The package consists of all the remainder of the parts that you just want for meeting: 4x screws, 4x pillars, GPIO adapter board with fan, 32 GB MicroSD card with customized OS put in, and a 2-in-1 system adapter board (the place you insert a further MicroSD card).
Assembling the CrowPi L was fairly easy and was a comparatively painless course of. The small, folded guide it ships with got here in helpful and was surprisingly simple to comply with.
We did have some minor points getting the system besides the primary time, however it turned out that the HDMI growth board was not correctly hooked up to the Pi. So make certain that all parts are flush in opposition to the board after set up. You also needs to just be sure you set the twin system toggle change previous to power-up besides the OS you want to use, ideally CrowPi’s customized OS which has the teachings built-in.
Studying With CrowPi L
As quickly as you energy up the system with the customized OS, the Pi Panel window will open, serving because the entry level for the CrowPi L programming classes that are divided into two classes: Letscode and Python. The package helps a number of apps or IDEs akin to Arduino, Geany, and Thonny.
Letscode and Python classes begin with instructing fundamental capabilities and operations which embody workouts to use them. The teachings progressively get tougher by way of the course. However, in case you have earlier data utilizing Scratch (which is what Letscode is predicated on) or Python, you can too set your individual tempo and begin from wherever or skip classes as you please. This was not the case in CrowPi2 the place you might not advance to the subsequent lesson until you accomplished the earlier one, so it’s a welcome change.
You probably have the Superior Equipment, as we did, you’ll be able to select from any of the 24 accessible {hardware} tasks to comply with together with and modify the code to create your individual packages. Right here you would want to connect the GPIO growth defend board to the 40-pin GPIO port slot that’s accessible in CrowPi L.
As a result of Letscode is block-based there isn’t a precise coding concerned and it’s simple for even youthful youngsters to be taught and comply with. Though this system directions state that this was developed for youngsters, my eight-year-old daughter was in a position to comply with alongside and get by way of the primary few software program programming classes fairly simply.
The deal with sport design to show coding is a profitable technique that appeals to each youngsters and teenagers. It was one thing that piqued my daughter’s curiosity and he or she was desirous to check out the software program programming classes.
Within the Guarding the Farm sport, she had enjoyable modifying the code to vary the velocity at which a snail will get to a cabbage. She additionally favored having the ability to animate the sprites by going by way of the totally different “costumes” accessible in Letscode. She even tried so as to add extra characters to her model of the sport. Not every thing she tried labored out as she deliberate, however troubleshooting is all a part of the method of programming, and it’s fantastic to see how the teachings have been partaking her and honing her crucial pondering expertise as she progressed by way of the undertaking.
The Python software program classes supplied a bit extra problem which my 14-year-old appreciated. She stated she loved studying about fundamental Python capabilities, importing libraries, and correct command syntax. When she took a stab at creating her personal model of the sport Gluttonous Snake, she talked about having problem understanding among the directions within the tutorial, however once more, with a little bit of troubleshooting and trial and error she was in a position to resolve these on her personal. There’s undoubtedly room for Elecrow to make these tutorials extra useful.
She additionally tried going by way of a couple of of the {hardware} tasks just like the Flickering Mild and Siren. As an unbiased train, she wished to write down a easy program utilizing the LED sensors to ship a message utilizing morse code which we each thought was actually neat. I may inform that she loved taking part in round with the totally different sensors barely greater than programming the video games.
Fortunately, CrowPi L affords a wide range of tasks and actions that appeato a variety of kids . Each of my daughters – regardless of being in numerous age teams, at totally different programming ability ranges and having totally different pursuits – discovered issues that linked with them.
Backside Line
There isn’t any time like the current to bond along with your youngsters and have interaction with them in worthwhile actions that may stimulate their creativity and assist them be taught helpful expertise like coding whereas having enjoyable. The CrowPi L supplies each the training and the enjoyment of spending time with them. Regardless of some minor enhancements wanted within the documentation, you’ll discover the Letscode and Python tutorials excellent for sparking creativeness and studying.
As an academic platform, the CrowPi L is an efficient instrument to introduce youngsters and even adults who wish to be taught the essential ideas of programming and electronics. The CrowPi L is on the market for buy immediately from the Elecrow web site at $239 for the essential mannequin, however so as to absolutely benefit from all this Raspberry Pi-powered laptop computer has to supply, it is advisable dole out that additional dough and get the Crowtail Equipment ($60) and a Raspberry Pi 4 in the event you don’t have already got one.
Except for Elecrow, no different firm makes Raspberry Pi-powered Laptop computer kits that embody a complete programming package deal. Alternatively, the corporate’s CrowPi2 (opens in new tab) (priced at $315) might be an choice for you in the event you choose the comfort of getting the modules and sensors constructed contained in the package.
However in the event you love the true laptop computer feel and appear, the CrowPi L is filled with options and studying alternatives, designed to take any youngster’s STEM studying to the subsequent stage.