There are two new systems available from R-Comp Interactive, both based around Raspberry Pi 5 tech. The first of these is called 5idekick, and is a Linux system intended to run alongside (and used via) an existing RISC OS computer, while the second expands on the 5idekick with multiple SSD drives, and is intended to be used as a network attached storage (NAS) device.
Starting at £99, with a more powerful version (more RAM, nVME storage) priced at £199, the 5idekick is based on the same ideas as the Sidekick computers, launched at Wakefield 2022. These were small form factor Windows computers, and although they could be run as standalone computers, R-Comp sold them on the basis their low footprint meant they wouldn’t take up much desk space alongside an existing (RISC OS) computer, through which they could be accessed and operated over the network.
The 1337 speak (aka ‘leet speak’) initialised name indicates the use of Pi 5 technology in the 5idekick, which runs a Linux variant, and therefore provides access to all of the software available on that OS – and like the earlier Windows Sidekick machines, it can also be used as a standalone machine, although running it as intended by R-Comp means easy access to Linux applications without switching machines, easy sharing of files between the two operating systems, the ability to interact with Linux-based projects (such as those making use of the Pi’s GPIO pins) from the RISC OS computer, and so on.
And thanks to the sterling efforts of Tim Baldwin and Jan Rinze it’s possible to run our favourite OS directly on the computer. This is possible because while the Broadcom BCM2712 at the Pi 5’s heart is a 64-bit CPU, it does provide a 32-bit mode for running applications – so running RISC OS is achieved by running Linux as the computer’s actual operating system, then launching a special version of RISC OS under it as an application.
Describing 5idekick, R-Comp’s Andrew Rawnsley said “Effectively, it’s most-of-a-Hydra without the need to buy a Hydra, and smaller (although you’ll need an existing RISC OS computer ideally). Given the choice, we’d still go Hydra, but we understand that not everyone can justify a £599 Hydra.”
He also noted that the first 5idekick was shipped in April, shortly after the RISC OS North show which was late March – but the announcement of the machine was deliberately held back so it could be sent out with the one for…
The pi5erve is the second of the new machines, and extends the 5idekick idea into something even more useful. The machine can have multiple solid state drives (SSDs) installed, which can be used as individual drives or configured as a RAID system.
If you’re unfamiliar, RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Discs, and there are a number of ways they can be used (known as RAID levels), with mirroring being one. With this set up any data written to one of the drives is also written to the other(s), which means there is automatically a backup of that data on another drive.
The pi5erve can actually be used much as 5idekick is intended – as a second computer accessed over the network from your RISC OS computer, or as a standalone machine in its own right – but the envisaged purpose is as a RISC OS-friendly NAS, complete with a web-based interface for administration. This use is why the name plays on the word ‘serve’ – although R-Comp dismissed some alternatives that would make the NAS use more obvious, such as piNA5, because some immature people who run sites like this one (ahem) might, er, take the pi55 (badumtish).
Did someone say ‘RISC OS-friendly’? Yup. The pi5erve was created for RISC OS users, so everything is set up for compatibility with RISC OS client software, such as OmniClient and LanMan98 – and I’d guess the web-interface probably works with Iris.
R-Comp says the price is competitive with typical NAS options, with £299 for the base model with (single?) SSD storage, but you can choose what you want inside when you order – and expand later if need be. However, most NAS devices are designed for that one function, whereas pi5erve can also be used as a computer – or even, I imagine, as a NAS that can be called upon for those Linux applications when needed.
For more information, or to place an order for either of these machines, just contact R-Comp.
