Comment by ssl-3
19 days ago
What kind of bolted-down expansion does a cheap n3350 box have? How fast can I swap the main storage for something completely different? Can I power it with my USB battery bank? Does it support two digital monitors or does it instead have one HDMI and one VGA (like this is 1987)? Can I use it like an appliance and just plug in easy-to-download images like LibreELEC or EmulationStation, or do I need to understand how to make computers work before I can have a good experience with Kodi or console emulation?
I can see plenty of n3350 systems with dual hdmi on google and plenty with drive bays and relevant connectivity. Those seem to cost ~$100 vs the minimalist $65 ones.
In terms of driver support these intel systems are the easiest to work with in Linux. Very mainstream and well established drivers.
All your pros are cons when you use a Pi as a 24/7 router or home server :)
Requirements may vary.
Requirements do vary.
And I've got no regrets about using a Pi 4 a router. It's sitting on the shelf next to me, and has been trouble-free for over four years now.
How much stuff is hanging off usb on it instead of being in a proper case?
You may not care but I do.
I suppose a Pi 4 is fast enough to route 1 Gbps even through a usb network card?
[I do have one "sitting on a shelf" as a home Minecraft server btw. I hate the usb ssd hanging off it.]
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