Raspberry Pi Forums

Which of these is easier to learn with if you've had minimum exposure to either?

They are two very different animals.

The Raspberry Pi is a computer, like what most people are familiar with. Plug in a monitor, keyboard and mouse, and you've got a graphical desktop interface with a Linux operating system, similar to a desktop or laptop computer (but smaller and slower).

The Arduinos are microcontrollers. No keyboard, monitor or mouse, no operating system. So they must be programmed using another computer (Perhaps a Raspberry Pi). They're great at what they do, but chances are most people will be more comfortable with a Raspberry Pi for starters. And then add an Arduino to get the best of both worlds.

In my opinion Arduino is easier to learn.
The many different ways of listing pinouts on the RPI can be quite confusing.
The Arduino programs in C while python is common on the RPi.
I use the wiringpi libraries for programming the GPIO on the RPi in C because I prefer C and the pin numbers are clearer.

As Douglas6 wrote, the Pi is an embedable personal computer motherboard with input/output pins, which costs more than a low end laptop when you add SD card, monitor, keyboard, mouse, power supply, VGA converter, USB hub, and a Linux compatible wifi fob, so you can do lots more with it than control things, you can make embedded GUI's for your projects, use it as a web server to put your website, video camera, or robot online, and more.

But if you just want to sense and control things, I suggest looking beyond the Arduino to the Parallax Propeller, which you also have to program on a personal computer in another language, Spin, which is easier than C in my opinion. Also, the Propeller micro-controller chip is only $8 so you can sell projects with it cheaper than with a Pi. On the Pi you have a choice of several languages, some of which you might find employment in later.

So the choice boils down to what do you want to make, do you want to sell or give away what you make, what language you might use on a job, and how much money you have to spend.

Thanks, guys. You've given me good info.

[quote="Kirk Fraser"]As Douglas6 wrote, the Pi is an embedable personal computer motherboard with input/output pins, which costs more than a low end laptop when you add SD card, monitor, keyboard, mouse, power supply, VGA converter, USB hub, and a Linux compatible wifi fob</quote>

Why would you need to buy a VGA converter unless you were using an existing VGA monitor?
HDMI monitors/TVs are getting more common and cheap, and an old monitor usually has at least a DVI-D input which only needs a cable costing a quid or two.

You can't factor in the costs of buying stuff you already own!

Also, WiFi? Totally optional. I don't use it. Wires are faster and easier to set up.

Although I'm glad you said "embedable" instead of "embedded". So many people get that wrong.