---
title: C.H.I.P Computer is Awesome
date: 2016-07-06T13:36:41+00:00
modified: 2016-07-06T13:48:00+00:00
image:: https://kaspars.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/chip-computer.jpg
permalink: https://kaspars.net/blog/chip-first-look
post_type: post
author:
  name: Kaspars
  avatar: https://reverse.kaspars.net/gravatar/avatar/92bfcd3a8c3a21a033a6484d32c25a40b113ec6891f674336081513d5c98ef76?s=96&d=mm&r=g
category:
  - Electronics
post_tag:
  - Physical Web
  - raspberrypi
---

# C.H.I.P Computer is Awesome

![C.H.I.P Computer](https://kaspars.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/chip-computer.jpg?strip=all&quality=90&resize=2000,2002)

The [$9 C.H.I.P computer](https://getchip.com/) is great (here are [the specs](http://docs.getchip.com/chip.html#chip-hardware)):

The micro USB port provides a TTL Serial connection which provides instant access to the machine. With Raspberry Pi you need to use a separate TTL to USB converter which makes it so much harder to get started.

It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth LE (Smart) — great for creating Eddystone beacons and iBeacons. I wonder if I can enable a Bluetooth serial profile.

Installing or updating the OS is super simple with [a Chrome extension](http://flash.getchip.com/) — no need to format SD cards or write disk images using command line. This together with the USB TTL connection makes it so much easier than Raspberry Pi to get started and try new things.

I’ll update this post as I learn new things.