The best Raspberry Pi distributions in 2021

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• The best Raspberry Pi distributions in 2021

Believe it or not, the Raspberry Pi is now eight years old. In this relatively short period of time, Pi ushered in a new computing revolution that goes far beyond its original mission of promoting basic computing education in schools. The Best Raspberry Pi Distributions There have been several developments of the Pi in recent years. The Pi Zero launched in 2015, and the Pi and its 'essential' kit are available for under $10 (about $13, AU$18). The Pi Zero W was added to the Zero family in February 2017, with a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, again for just over $15 (about $19, AU$). 27) with accessories. The latest addition to the family is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, which now features a 1,5GHz quad-core processor. Unlike previous versions of the Single Board Computer (SBC), there are now three variations of the Raspberry Pi 4; with 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB of RAM. This opens up the device to more use cases than one would have even imagined when the original device debuted in 2012. If you just need to use it, of course. as a computer, there is the Raspberry Pi 400 that has just been released. roll a 1.8Ghz Raspberry Pi inside a keyboard. What makes the Raspberry Pi so successful is that it's backed by an equally impressive range of software that allows DIY enthusiasts to tailor the tiny computer for different tasks. Here we have collected some of the best Raspberry Pi distros that allow you to consume the device in different ways.

Raspberry Pi distributions overview:

Raspberry Pi operating system

Volumio

RetroPie

LibreELEC

OpenMediaVault

(Image credit: Raspberry Pi OS)

1. Raspberry Pi operating system

The official distribution of Raspberry Pi

Reasons to buy + Sleek, lightweight desktop + Lots of software at your fingertips + Configuration tool The Raspberry Pi operating system (formerly known as Raspbian) is the official distribution of the Raspberry Pi. It is based on the venerable Debian Linux project and uses a custom LXDE-based desktop environment that uses the Openbox window manager to present a desktop. functional, elegant and that does not consume too many resources. The strong point of the distro is that it comes with various educational apps like Wolfram Mathematica and a version of Minecraft called Minecraft Pi. However, that does not take away from the fact that it is also an online distribution. general use. In fact, the latest version of the build has gone through various tweaks and tests to ensure that it works seamlessly with video conferencing software like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. You can install the distribution using the Raspberry Pi imaging application on your existing Windows, Linux, or macOS installation, or flash the distribution image to an SD card manually. The distro has one of the most active user communities, and you will have no trouble finding documentation and video tutorials for using the distro.

(Image credit: Volumio)

2. Volume

Turn your Raspberry Pi into the ultimate jukebox

Reasons to buy + Can play tracks from external storage + Connects to many music services + Supports DLNA and AirPlay compatible devices Volumio is designed to play and stream music, and while Volumio works with one of the Raspberry Pi boards (and several other SBC as well), is an ideal project for the Raspberry Pi Zero. With Volumio, you can set up a headless media server on the Pi that can play music in all popular formats from a connected USB or NAS device. The cast is easy to set up and you can easily use its intuitive interface to manage your music from the web browser. You can also manage your music through the official distribution apps on iOS and Android, or use one of the MPD-compatible apps, like MPDroid. Volumio supports the most popular audio file formats out of the box and supports a host of USB DACs so you can connect your amplifiers and other gear to enhance your listening experience. You can also use Volumio as a UPNP/DLNA and AirPlay receiver, and it comes with built-in web radio support and plugins for streaming music from Spotify and YouTube.

(Image credit: RetroPie)

3. Retro Pie

Emulate classic consoles and get nostalgic sensations galore

Reasons to buy + Supports many different consoles + Compatible with many game controllers + Highly configurable If you're a fan of classic games, grab a copy of the RetroPie distro and transfer it to your SD card. The cast can emulate dozens of classic consoles and personal computers such as the Amiga, Amstrad, Atari 2600, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Game Boy, PlayStation 1, and more. RetroPie is also compatible with all kinds of game controllers, from cheap no-name USB to controllers for PS3 and Xbox 360. On first startup, Retropie loads the Emulation Station software which helps you set up the controller and then lets you select a game. from one of the supported emulators. The only caveat is that you have to get your own ROMs. There are several that are legally downloadable for free and you can even make your own from old cartridges using adapters like Retrode along with your Mac/PC. The Internet Archives also has plenty of ROMs that are free to download, but be sure to check that this is legal in your jurisdiction before proceeding.

(Image credit: LibreELEC)

4. FreeELEC

Perfect option for those who want a multimedia center with Kodi technology

Reasons to buy + Specially designed for Kodi + Powerful media center functionality + Can be paired with the Kodi remote app You can use the Raspberry Pi to do all sorts of geeky stuff. But one of the more exciting uses for the smaller device is as a home theater computer. By using LibreELEC, you can use the small SBC and the fact that it runs quietly to build your own entertainment center. One of the best open source applications to turn any computer into a fully functioning media center PC is the Kodi media player, formerly known as XBMC. You can easily control Kodi's 10-foot user interface, perfect for connecting to large screen displays and projectors, either from the remote control or from its official Android and iOS apps. While you can install Kodi on the Raspberry Pi operating system, the OpenELEC distribution is a streamlined version that boots up in a jiffy, right on Kodi. In addition to playing files from local and network storage devices, the distro can also retrieve files from online services like Youtube, Spotify, Pandora Radio, and more.

(Image credit: OpenMediaVault)

5.OpenMediaVault

Specially designed for NAS use

Reasons to Buy + Intuitive Interface + Remote Management Capabilities + Many Advanced Features The OpenMediaVault (OMV) distribution is one of the best options for creating your own Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. Whereas OMV used to create images specially tuned for the Raspberry Pi, the distribution is now based on a script that will convert an existing Debian or Debian-based installation, such as Raspberry Pi OS Lite, to run OMV. The process is well documented and fairly easy to follow. Once up and running, you can configure and manage the distribution remotely using its browser-based administration interface. Any USB device you plug in will be automatically detected and you can also manually add your network storage. For best performance, be sure to use self-powered removable disks. You can use the drives attached to the OMV NAS individually or assemble them into a RAID array. The distro also offers plenty of options for handling other advanced aspects of a NAS.