We now have three RP2350B boards which could serve as RP2-based Home Computers in their own right; Adafruit Fruit Jam, Olimex RP2350pc, Waveshare RP2350-PiZero, and there may be others I am not aware of.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages compared with the others and I still haven't decided which I prefer.
The low-cost Waveshare offering is appealing, is what I would likely choose for DVI connected projects, but it's rather limited as a Home Computer platform.
I would be leaning towards the Olimex but that doesn't have Wi-Fi. The Fruit Jam does but uses an ESP-C6 so I don't know if that works as well with MicroPython and Pico SDK based projects as an RM2 would.
Just as it was 50 years ago, this era's Home Computer to Rule Them All hasn't emerged yet. Which is not unexpected but unfortunate because developers inevitably prefer to be running with the popular herd even if they also support others.
At this point in time I would predict Fruit Jam will seize the lead simply because Adafruit are proactive in encouraging use of their products and have a high profile and good reputation. If they attain pile-on momentum they will probably maintain dominance even if something else may be considered better, much as Raspberry Pi themselves have. I think they will.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages compared with the others and I still haven't decided which I prefer.
The low-cost Waveshare offering is appealing, is what I would likely choose for DVI connected projects, but it's rather limited as a Home Computer platform.
I would be leaning towards the Olimex but that doesn't have Wi-Fi. The Fruit Jam does but uses an ESP-C6 so I don't know if that works as well with MicroPython and Pico SDK based projects as an RM2 would.
Just as it was 50 years ago, this era's Home Computer to Rule Them All hasn't emerged yet. Which is not unexpected but unfortunate because developers inevitably prefer to be running with the popular herd even if they also support others.
At this point in time I would predict Fruit Jam will seize the lead simply because Adafruit are proactive in encouraging use of their products and have a high profile and good reputation. If they attain pile-on momentum they will probably maintain dominance even if something else may be considered better, much as Raspberry Pi themselves have. I think they will.
Statistics: Posted by hippy — Sat Aug 09, 2025 3:05 pm