But those projects are usually expensive, and some even require a 3D printer.

Plus, its just $50.

What Is a PocketC.H.I.P.

and Why Is It Awesome?

and PocketC.H.I.P.are both Kickstarter-funded DIY computers.

If youre wondering, C.H.I.P.doesnt appear to actually stand for anything.

The C.H.I.P is a $9 Linux development board.

When you buy a PocketC.H.I.P.

youll get a C.H.I.P.

already installed, and you might swap it out with another C.H.I.P.

As far as power and features, the C.H.I.P.

is similar to something like theRaspberry Pi Zero, but has plenty of tricks of its own.

differs from the more popular Raspberry Pi in a number of ways.

First off, theres no native HDMI.

Youll need to shell out$15 for an HDMI adapterif you want HD video out.

However, the C.H.I.P.

has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on-board.

like you do with a Raspberry Pi.

This is good for beginners because the C.H.I.P.

comes with a Debian-based version of Linux preinstalled.

As for installing other operating systems, you use aweb-based toolto flash operating systems onto the C.H.I.P.

package is the main draw.

The display isnt mind-blowing, but for the price, it does what it needs to and looks fine.

I was more surprised by the quality of the keyboard case.

Heres a closer look at it:

The keyboard case also breaks apart easily.

Setup and Getting Started Is Ridiculously Easy

As far as Linux-based computers go, the PocketC.H.I.P.

might just be the easiest setup process Ive ever seen.

Wait the 30 or so seconds for it to boot up.

When you get to the home screen, tap the controls icon to set up Wi-Fi.

Youre ready to go.

The sucker just works out of the box.

Which is a kind of crazy thing to say considering its based on Linux.

The PocketC.H.I.P.

If you havent used the command line before, ourbeginners guidewill get you started with everything you need.

The games are 128x128 resolution and coded in Lua.

SunVox: SunVox is a music creation tool that works like a full blown production studio.

Heck, you might even attach a MIDI keyboard it you want.

If youve ever wanted to make chiptune-esque jams, SunVox is a fun tool for doing so.

Just see to it you plug in some headphone before you dive in because the PocketC.H.I.P.

doesnt come with a speaker.

Write: Write is your text editor.

Its a plain text editor, but does support line numbering and auto indentation.

The Pros and Cons of the C.H.I.P.

Platform

For the sake of simplicity, its easy to compare the C.H.I.P.

to the Raspberry Pi, but the two work differently.

First off, operating system support on the C.H.I.P.

is pretty limited right now.

is limited to its own version of Debian right now.

Likewise, the PocketC.H.I.P.

run different versions of the same operating system, which gets confusing.

Both are Debian, but the PocketC.H.I.P.

has a special graphic software layer that works with the touchscreen and keyboard.

Take a look at theproject pageand theforumsto get a good idea of what people are making with the C.H.I.P.

has a ways to go before its great, but its off to a good start.

is far from perfect, but Id be hard pressed to label any hobbyist computer even close to perfect.

If youve longed to have the command line in your pocket, the PocketC.H.I.P.