When the Raspberry Pi 500+ was announced, it generated excitement due to its combination of a mechanical keyboard and the power of a Raspberry Pi 5. This device, priced at £200, represents the costliest Raspberry Pi so far, prompting some to question its value compared to the cheaper models they may already own.
Enthusiasts wondered if the Raspberry Pi 500+ could serve as a standalone mechanical keyboard for other devices. Fortunately, it can, although there are limitations. Utilizing the open-source btferret project, users can connect the Pi 500+ as a Bluetooth keyboard to laptops, tablets, or gaming rigs.
However, using it in this manner isn’t as simple as one might hope. The device requires a booted Raspberry Pi running a specific script to stream key presses to other devices, introducing a 20-second boot time. Unfortunately, it won’t function during OS-level screens like BIOS or GRUB, and while typing latency is acceptable, it falls short for gaming applications. Additionally, configuring key functions involves delving into scripts and configuration files, which could be a hassle for many.
Switching between Pi mode and keyboard mode isn’t seamless either and may require SSH access or a configured hotkey to revert the device back to its primary function.
Nevertheless, the capability to use a keyboard designed for the Raspberry Pi as a functional keyboard for other devices showcases the ingenuity of the open-source community. This feature could sway potential buyers who might have been hesitant about investing in the 500+ due to its price.
There’s a lingering question whether the Raspberry Pi community should consider enhancing compatibility with other devices natively. What are your thoughts?