Does the Raspberry Pi work with Windows? – Your tech questions answered - Colin Meaden

Does the Raspberry Pi work with Windows? – Your tech questions answered - Colin Meaden 2014feb09

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/09/your-tech-questions-answered-raspberry-pi

Do you have to use Linux with the Raspberry Pi or will Windows work with the system?

Q The Raspberry Pi is a brilliantly cheap way of getting young (and not so young) people into programming but, being Linux based, it is not to everyone's taste. Is there a low-cost equivalent – or DIY guide for sourcing components and building one – that will run Windows?

A The Raspberry Pi is an excellent little device, but it is compromised and likely to frustrate some users with its performance without some system tinkering. These limitations are arguably by design as it tries to encourage young people not to be afraid to explore what they can do with computers – this is where Linux is an excellent companion for the Pi. It makes it much easier to tinker with the core of the system or, if you get more proficient, even compile your own version of the operating system. (Compiling is when you pass in computer code, and a compiler breaks it down into the most basic instructions so that a computer processor can act on them.) Linux may not be quite as user-friendly, but it's incredibly flexible for learning and has amazing package managers to install compilers easily, as well as to install other software. This also has the benefit that, if you ruin the system, you can re-image (clear off and re-add a new version of the OS) the SD card and start again.

If you require a Windows computer, however (for example, if its primary use is going to be office tasks with some light programming), it's hard to recommend anything close to that price point. This is because Windows is a much more bloated operating system and requires higher system specifications to operate and run well. You also have to be careful that you aren't buying a Windows RT device, as you won't be able to run your own code without some more setup and, even then, you'll be limited to which languages you can write.

If you can afford the extra, and need Windows, then purchase as you would a home computer – but you'll have to be more careful with what you touch, especially if it has important files without backups.

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Daniel is a freelance programmer for iOS and the web. He is a student and has been coding since he was eight. He is an ambassador for Young Rewired State ...

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