Sir Lancelot
Striker
Definitely go for a Pi 4, the higher GB you can afford the better. I wouldn’t recommend the Pi 400 as it seems to be getting more ‘black box’ like.
In terms of setting it up and using it, I wouldn’t recommend trying a headless install with him. Just plug it into your TV until it’s all ready to go via SSH. As others have said, you can either link into it via a PC or iPad. If you use it via the iPad you can use a keyboard and mouse with it - it doesn’t have to be a special iPad set, you can buy a lightning usb adaptor to use wireless keyboards and mice.
Minecraft Pi version is included in a standard installation of Raspbian (now called Raspberry Pi OS I believe), as is Scratch and Python editors. However Minecraft Pi is a very old version designed to help learn how to code. You can’t play Survival mode in it, and it will never (officially) be updated, though a team of fans are working on updating it.
You can run Minecraft Java 1.16 on a Pi 4 with some tinkering, the Pi 3 just isn’t powerful enough. It’s not officially supported of course, but it does mean you can either use it to play on somebody else’s server or host your own without tying up the computer. I don’t know how much you know about Minecraft servers, but if you do run one on the Pi mind your network security - I would only let his real life friends onto it.
There are various installations of OS available, including Retropie which comes with emulators for old consoles. No ROMs included, and of course you should only download ROMs of games you actually own Some people use them for watching films, I can’t possibly comment.
In terms of hardware I would go for the official power supply, but don’t buy a bundle with the Pi, chances are you’ve got half the stuff or more lying around. I would consider buying a physical computing kit with various wires etc, there’s loads on Amazon and official Pi sellers. They also sell individual components. Maybe he would like a robot kit to go with it? There are free guides online for virtually everything!
As mentioned, the Pi 4 gets hotter than the 3, so if you’re going to enclose it you may be worthwhile buying a fan for it. You can get cases that already include one. Definitely get a case of some sort, or goodness knows what will happen to it.
In terms of setting it up and using it, I wouldn’t recommend trying a headless install with him. Just plug it into your TV until it’s all ready to go via SSH. As others have said, you can either link into it via a PC or iPad. If you use it via the iPad you can use a keyboard and mouse with it - it doesn’t have to be a special iPad set, you can buy a lightning usb adaptor to use wireless keyboards and mice.
Minecraft Pi version is included in a standard installation of Raspbian (now called Raspberry Pi OS I believe), as is Scratch and Python editors. However Minecraft Pi is a very old version designed to help learn how to code. You can’t play Survival mode in it, and it will never (officially) be updated, though a team of fans are working on updating it.
You can run Minecraft Java 1.16 on a Pi 4 with some tinkering, the Pi 3 just isn’t powerful enough. It’s not officially supported of course, but it does mean you can either use it to play on somebody else’s server or host your own without tying up the computer. I don’t know how much you know about Minecraft servers, but if you do run one on the Pi mind your network security - I would only let his real life friends onto it.
There are various installations of OS available, including Retropie which comes with emulators for old consoles. No ROMs included, and of course you should only download ROMs of games you actually own Some people use them for watching films, I can’t possibly comment.
In terms of hardware I would go for the official power supply, but don’t buy a bundle with the Pi, chances are you’ve got half the stuff or more lying around. I would consider buying a physical computing kit with various wires etc, there’s loads on Amazon and official Pi sellers. They also sell individual components. Maybe he would like a robot kit to go with it? There are free guides online for virtually everything!
As mentioned, the Pi 4 gets hotter than the 3, so if you’re going to enclose it you may be worthwhile buying a fan for it. You can get cases that already include one. Definitely get a case of some sort, or goodness knows what will happen to it.