Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
NOW THAT YOU
have a basic understanding of how the Raspberry Pi differs from other
computing devices, it's time to get started. If you've just received your Pi, take it out of its
protective anti-static bag and place it on a flat, non-conductive surface before continuing
with this chapter.
To use your Pi, you'll need some extra peripherals. A display will allow you to see what you're
doing, while a keyboard and mouse will be your input devices. In this chapter, you'll learn
how to connect these to the Pi, along with a network connection in the case of the Model B.
You'll also learn how to download and install an operating system for the Pi.
Your Mileage May Vary
The information and instructions in this topic give you all you need to get your Raspberry Pi
up and running and to make the most of its capabilities. Be aware that some of the software
for the Raspberry Pi is evolving so quickly that what you see on your screen may differ
slightly from some of the images in the topic, as new features and options become
available.
Connecting a Display
Before you can start using your Raspberry Pi, you're going to need to connect a display. The
Pi supports three different video outputs: composite video, HDMI video and DSI video.
Composite video and HDMI video are readily accessible to the end user, as described in this
section, while DSI video requires some specialised hardware.
Composite Video
Composite video, available via the yellow-and-silver port at the top of the Pi known as an
RCA phono
connector
(see Figure 2-1), is designed for connecting the Raspberry Pi to older
display devices. As the name suggests, the connector creates a composite of the colours
found within an image—red, green and blue—and sends it down a single wire to the display
device, typically an old cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV.
When no other display device is available, a composite video connection will get you started
with the Pi. The quality isn't great, however. Composite video connections are significantly
more prone to interference, lack clarity and run at a limited
resolution,
meaning that you can
fit fewer icons and lines of text on the screen at once.
