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Meet PiPad, the $350 DIY Raspberry Pi tablet

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:44PM EST
PiPad Raspberry Pi Tablet
Image: Flickr

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The PiPad is the name Michael Castor gave to the Raspberry Pi wood and carbon fiber tablet he built after gathering all the necessary parts. “It seems that every day a manufacturer comes out with a new tablet computer. Thinner, lighter, faster, but it seems that they all look about the same and accomplish roughly the same thing, Castor wrote on Makezine. “When I set out to build my Raspberry Pi tablet I wanted something different. I wanted an all-in-one system that was usable, portable and Linux-based.”

Another factor important to Castor was the actual design of the tablet, as he planned to use the PiPad during flights, without “freaking out” the TSA. Castor ended up choosing Baltic birch plywood for the PiPad’s frame and carbon fiber for the basis of the frame. The most difficult task was finding a 10.1-inch touchscreen display running off 5V like the Raspberry Pi. The tablet also packs a 10,000mAh battery that can be charged from a cell phone charger and offers about six hours of life. The whole project cost $350, and the PiPad has been autographed by Raspberry Pi’s Eben Upton, who was also impressed with the device at the Maker Faire New York event. “I could have bought an iPad or an Android tablet for that (or less) but what’s the fun in that?” Castor told The Register.

Castor did not have any problems getting the PiPad through airport security, and his device was admired by a flight attendant only because it played a movie she liked. More images showing the PiPad are available below (via Flickr).

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.