Peter Gamma (Physiologist & Director) Meditation Research Institute Switzerland (MRIS)

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Which is currently the most interesting Raspberry Pi for mobile applications – the zero 2 w?

Posted bypg@petergamma.org 4 Comments on Which is currently the most interesting Raspberry Pi for mobile applications – the zero 2 w?

Last Updated on June 21, 2024 by pg@petergamma.org

The Raspberry Pi zero was the Pi with the least power consumption shown in the following test of Explaining Computers:

  • I expect that a CM4 has a similar power consumption than a Raspberry Pi 4.
  • A CM 4 is in principle a Pi 4 with cut-off peripherals.

But as the following tests shows:

  • The peripherals draw not so much power.
  • The most power draw comes from the CPU.
  • And the Pi 4 and the compute modul 4 are basically the same CPU.
  • Therefore I suppose the CM 4 platform is not very suitable for mobile applications, as the the Raspberry Pi 4 as well.
  • Devices based on the CM4 are smaller than the Pi 4, but what is not much smaller is it’s battery consumption, I suppose, probably only a bit lesser than that of a Pi 4.
  • But for mobile applications, is the zero 2 w is not the better solution?
  • We made a test with a 20 000 mAh power bank.
  • Such a power bank ha about double the size of a smartphone.
  • Buts it is still suitable as a mobile device.
  • Ther zero (2) w runs Rasbperry Pi OS which is great for a Linux beginner who I am.
  • And also for someone who usually does not code as I am as well.
  • The zero w can run LibreOffice but very slow.
  • With the zero 2 w it should be a bit better.
  • And a zero 2 w with a 7 inch smartphone should be usable for LibreOffice.
  • The screen size should be large enough.
  • With LibreOffice which is usable with this device it is 27 years ahead to the development of the Pinephone as far as mobile office is concerned.
  • One of the best office solutions for the Pinephone is currently MS Word 97 & box86/WINE.
  • and Word 97 was released 27 years ago:
Recent developments of Office applications which run on the Pinephone & on Android
  • Where as LibreOffice which runs on the Raspberry Pi zero w 2 was only recently updated in the year 2024.

And a 20 000 mAh power bank was able to power a Raspberry Pi zero 2 w for more than 24 hours in a test with made recently.

  • And if we choose a smartphone as a Raspberry Pi screen, we have a screen which as it’s own battery and it’s own power management which is from a smarphone, it uses very little power.

So we have a mobile device which can be carried around easily which consists of the following four components:

  1. There is software available which allows to use a smartphone as a Raspberry Pi touch screen:
  • There is a ethernet connection required for this. It is highly desrible that this connection goes over a wired ethernet cable to save power.

2. a Raspberry Pi zero 2 w single board computer which Raspberry Pi OS:

3. a 20 000 mAh power bank which powers the zero 2 w for more than 24 hrs:

4. a Bluetooth keyboard with integrated touch pad:

  • Raspberry Pi touch functionality is explained here:
Is it possible to control a Raspberry Pi through touch screen interface?

We have not tested yet this setup, but we see not reason why it should not work.

  • To optimize power consumption of the Raspberry Pi zero 2 w see this article:

https://www.cnx-software.com/2021/12/09/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-power-consumption

Information for product sellers who do stock market speculation and scalping with products mentioned by Peter Gamma on www.petergamma.org

According to the little experience of Peter Gamma from www.petergamma.org, many of the products listed here are still full of issues which need to be resolved. If you do stock market speculation and scalping with those, you will loose Peter Gamma from www.petergamma.org as a buyer of these products and as a reviewer. Is this not risky? Will you not loose a majority of your costumers as well?

And is it not so, that society in general does not accept stock market speculation and scalping with products as those which are listed here? And will you not be politically incapable of finding a majority of the voters if you do stock market speculation and scalping with these products?

And as a consequence will you not be condemned and punished by a political referendum soon? Especially if you do this to a Swiss, since are not majority of Swiss against stock market speculations and scalping with people on a budget? And people in Switzerland are known for a lot of political referendums, since we have direct democracy in this country.

And Peter Gamma from www.petergamma.org will fight up to the European Court of Human Rights against people who do stock market speculation and scalping with the products which are mentioned on www.petergamma.org. And if they do not have yet the legal basis there to do so, he will fight for it.

What is a scalper?

A scalper is someone who buys something and resells it at a price far above the initial cost. For instance some says: “He got theater tickets through a scalper”: Someone who buys tickets to an event in order to resell them at a profit. And is it not also scalping if you take reviews from this site to make out of it a new product offer, and sell it for a higher price? We doubt that you will be successful with it. Since Peter Gamma will review your product and will user not come back to www.petergamma.org after that?