A minicomputer for a begginer

[V3t3r4n]

Hi,
atm I'm not an adult so in my free time I learn about programming. I really want to get into things like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, but my wallet isn't big enough. I was considering the new Raspberry Pi Zero W. What do you think about it?

[bgibbz]

I suppose it's a good place to start, but you can honestly learn programming on just about any platform. You don't need a powerful pc to do basic programming.  

[minibois]

Raspberry Pi's and Arduino's are fun if you want to want to make little projects with them, but if you just want a Linux platform you might as well install it on a flash drive and run it on your current laptop/PC. And general can be done on a 'regular PC' too.

 

So what kind of projects are you looking to do?

[V3t3r4n]

4 minutes ago, Minibois said:

Raspberry Pi's and Arduino's are fun if you want to want to make little projects with them.

Well that's what I want to do. A spotify radio etc. Just for fun.

[ProjectBox153]

The Raspberry PI Zero W is decent, but you'll need some cables and accessories to use it easily, such as the proper HDMI cable, a USB OTG adapter, and a USB hub that's externally powered. Sounds like a lot of the dongle life from the MacBook Pro came over to the RPi. I'd recommend getting the full size Pi. They're only $35 (if you have a USB mouse and keyboard and an HDMI cable and Micro USB power cable, you're set. You don't need the big huge "starter" packs) and they're way easier to plus things into. Plus they have ethernet.

[SCHISCHKA]

The cheapest way to get into electronics and programing is just use your computer with a parallel port, old style printer port card

[V3t3r4n]

23 minutes ago, Jamiec1130 said:

The Raspberry PI Zero W is decent, but you'll need some cables and accessories to use it easily, such as the proper HDMI cable, a USB OTG adapter, and a USB hub that's externally powered. 

https://thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w Could this be enough? I have many hdmi cables and a mini usb keyboard. The only thing I don't know is how to power it up. Some people say that a smartphone charger will be ok. What do you think?

[ProjectBox153]

34 minutes ago, V3t3r4n said:

https://thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w Could this be enough? I have many hdmi cables and a mini usb keyboard. The only thing I don't know is how to power it up. Some people say that a smartphone charger will be ok. What do you think?

Micro USB smartphone chargers are fine as long as they output enough power. That would be ok (the kit) but you'd still need an externally powered USB hub  to use more than one USB device. That's why I strongly recommend the full size ones. 

[kasugatei]

+1 for the full sized one. With zero you will have to spend a lot more time connecting all of the dongles and you'll nee lots of adapters. Just buy regular RPi and that's it. Zeros are more intended for installation where you have limited space.

[Fourthdwarf]

If you just want to program, if you have a computer, it will do, no need for an arduino or pi. But that you mentioned arduino, it makes me think you might also be interested in electronics, in which case an arduino is fantastic, as you can get clones for extremely cheap (less than a fiver for a nano clone), and needs only a mini-b cable and whatever components you plan on using for your circuit.

 

The arduino can easily communicate over serial, if you then want internet connectivity or more computing power than the uC can provide