The $35 or close to it is also a great hook for getting purchase because nothing other than small tablets come even close in price. However, please keep in mind that price is just the base unit. You will need many accessories just to get started which is also what gives so many possibilities to this powerful device. I have quite a bit of computer components around from taking part in auctions for years, so I was able to make due with only buying the Raspberry Pi 3 case, the mini SD card with Noobs, and the HDMI to VGA adapter for an older monitor. The monitor adapter ended up being the biggest expense by far.

As can be seen in the screenshot above, quite a few device can be plugged into unit with the case on or off. There are 8 total plugin possibilities. However some, including myself, will never use the Ethernet port. The four USB slots will provide the most customization options as far as hardware is concerned while the HDMI port could be the most challenging. Most older monitors do not have that option. Instead, you will need to hunt down an adapter for the best price possible. I was surprised to find most of these for about the same price as the Raspberry Pi, if not more! Ended up with buying one on sale at Walmart for about $25 to finish getting all the components need to get Raspberry Pi running! Will provide more details in the next blog post.

Here are the components I already had to set up the Raspberry Pi 3:

1. Monitor for the HDMI slot above.
2. USB Keyboard.
3. USB Mouse.
4. USB Gamepad.
5. USB Wall Charger for the mini USB slot.

The post Raspberry Pi: Setting up the DIY Computer appeared first on GameOgre.

In fact, consumers spent over $30 billion ($30.346 billion, to be exact) on gaming computers and accessories for gaming computers last year. This was huge, as they weren’t expected to break the $30 billion mark until 2018. Jon Peddie Research (JPR) released a statement saying, “The average PC sale is incredibly motivated by the video game use model, which is important to understand in a stagnant or declining overall PC market,… As basic computing functions become more entrenched with mobile devices, the PC ultimately becomes a power user’s tool…”. Meaning that those who still choose to have a more conventional computer usually need or want it for something more than your average consumer.

But why are PC sales declining? In part, it’s as JPR says – people are finding they can use their mobile devices, instead. More and more consumers are ditching computers and sticking with their mobile devices, which allows them to do anything a computer would, from writing papers to checking social media sites.

Another reason, according to IDC, a research outfit, is Windows 10. When they offered a free upgrade to Windows 10, they gave consumers a reason to not go out and buy a new computer. While this was good news to those who were still reeling from the discontinuation of support for Windows XP, it hit a lot of manufacturers in the wallet. As Microsoft continues to give out free updates to existing machines, many speculate that sells will continue to fall, or at least stabilize at this new, lower rate.

Loren Loverde, VP of IDC, was quoted as saying, “The latest update reflects continuing pressure on PC shipments, but does not significantly change the factors driving the market. In addition, we have now had four consecutive quarters of double-digit volume declines. This type of prolonged slump is unprecedented, and lowers the bar for some improvement going forward. Unfortunately, the PC market still faces some persistent challenges, and for now, improvement continues to mean slower declines.”

While this doesn’t necessarily mean ‘the end’ for PC sales, it is rather foreboding. Many speculate that to turn this around, PC manufacturers will have to widen their nets and find a way to entice consumers to buy new PCs. However, it’s never been better for those who know how to build their own PCs, and PC gamers, who are helping to shape the new market.

By Cliff Gerald

The post While PC Sales Decline, PC Gaming Hardware Gains Popularity appeared first on GameOgre.