Looking for monitors that are easy to store (to use with Rasp Pi)

[Bev]

Our ICT suite has desks where the monitors fold away into the desks, and you can't access the ports, so they don't work well for the Rasp Pi.

 

I'd like to order some monitors that we will just use for the Rasp Pi, but they need to all stack up next to each other on a shelf fairly compactly when not in use.

 

I have a handful of old monitors we are currently using, but they take up a lot of space when not in use.

 

Is anyone using a suitable monitor?

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Hi @Bev

 

What about an input switcher on each monitor instead?

[Bev]

The current monitors don't have a HDMI input. We will be replacing them probably over the summer, and I was wondering how easy it would be to switch between the 2. That's definitely a possibility.

 

 

I've just found these as well, which look good as well. I particularly like the case with the Pi mounted on the back.

[theeggmaster]

Could you install VNC onto each Rasp Pi, and then access them from the PC's? That way you wouldn't need the monitors plugged into the Pi.

[Bev]

Yes, that's what I have done in the past. It works pretty well unless you want to access Minecraft (for which it is far too slow).

 

I've got a coding club going at the moment, and they are using Python to create buildings in Minecraft. You can't do that over VNC.

 

I also think it confuses the kids. As they are using their normal PCs to access the Raspberry Pi, they don't seem to grasp that it is a computer in its own right. I think they are more effective when used alone.

[CyberNerd]

unless you are actually using the breakout boards (or cannot code for USB/Serial for whatever reason) it would be far cheaper to sell the PI's and use a virtual machine.

[Knil92]

why dont you just use car backing up monitors and use composite video out? you can get the backing up monitors relatively cheap on amazon. From what i gather you can just hook up a 9v battery and use a composite video cable to connect the pi.

[theeggmaster]

Hi,

 

Just read that the RealVNC for Raspberry Pi alpha release now supports Minecraft. Just thought I'd update this thread in case anyone was interested.

 

Link

[Bev]

that;s really interesting, thank you

[dhicks]

I'd like to order some monitors that we will just use for the Rasp Pi, but they need to all stack up next to each other on a shelf fairly compactly when not in use.

 

We're rather thinking the official Raspberry Pi display looks like just the thing:

 

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/the-eagerly-awaited-raspberry-pi-display/

 

It neatly mounts the Raspberry Pi on the back, complete with power connections - if you're using Raspberry Pi 3s with built-in wireless you should only need the one cable plugged in to the wall for power. You can get / make dinky stands for it easily enough so they stand upright on the desk.

 

My plan at the moment is for each child in the class to be assigned a Raspberry Pi, then log in to it with their standard AD username / password via our AccessNow RDP gateway. That way they can leave the Pi running overnight / the weekend and tinker with it from home if they want. As pointed out above, a Raspberry Pi in a classroom setting doesn't have much over a VM unless you're doing some physical I/O stuff with it, so I plan to configure the screen as a basic I/O device. Pupils will program on a separate console from the output that appears on the Raspberry Pi's display, then we can add further input / output devices as we go along.