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    1 min read 5 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

    What Is a Raspberry Pi and What Can You Do With It

    A tiny $35 computer that can be a media center, security camera, retro game console, and more.

    At a Glance

    Category
    How-To Guides
    Difficulty
    Advanced
    Read Time
    1 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    raspberry-pi
    diy
    projects
    technology

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.What it is
    2. 2.Popular projects
    3. 3.As a security camera
    4. 4.As a network-wide ad blocker
    5. 5.Getting started
    1

    What it is

    ~15s
    A Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized computer that costs $35-80. It has USB ports, HDMI output, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. You plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to use it.
    2

    Popular projects

    ~15s
    Media center (Kodi): stream movies and music on your TV. Retro gaming (RetroPie): play classic Nintendo and Sega games. Home server: store and share files on your network.
    3

    As a security camera

    ~15s
    Connect a camera module and use MotionEye software. You get a free security camera system that records to a memory card or your network — no monthly subscription.
    4

    As a network-wide ad blocker

    ~15s
    Install Pi-hole to block ads on EVERY device on your network — phones, tablets, smart TVs — without installing software on each device.
    5

    Getting started

    ~15s
    Buy a Raspberry Pi kit ($50-80 with case, power supply, and SD card). Download Raspberry Pi Imager on your computer. Flash the operating system to the SD card. Boot it up and follow the setup wizard.

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