According to The How-To Geek, the Raspberry Pi 500+ is the latest iteration of their keyboard computer lineup launching in 2025. This model features 16GB of RAM and 256GB of pre-installed NVMe storage running Raspberry Pi OS, all built into a mechanical keyboard with Gateron KS-33 blue switches. The base keyboard unit starts at $200, requiring only a USB-C power supply, micro HDMI cable, monitor, and mouse to function. This represents a significant upgrade from the 2020 Raspberry Pi 400 with 4GB RAM and the 2024 Raspberry Pi 500 with 8GB RAM that still used microSD storage. The design intentionally channels 1990s home computers like the Commodore Amiga 1200, creating a complete computing experience in a single peripheral.
The nostalgia is strong, but is it practical?
Here’s the thing about these all-in-one keyboard computers: they’re incredibly cool conceptually, but they come with some real limitations. The writer admits these designs were eventually surpassed by modular PCs for good reason. When your keyboard IS your computer, a simple coffee spill becomes a catastrophic event. Sure, the switches are technically replaceable, but who wants to disassemble their entire computer to fix a keyboard issue?
And let’s talk about that mechanical keyboard with clicky blue switches. The article describes them as “loud enough to annoy the person next to you.” That’s charming if you’re working alone, but in any shared space? You’ll quickly become the office villain. The low-profile design might appeal to Apple keyboard fans, but mechanical keyboard purists might find the experience lacking compared to full-sized options.
So who actually needs this thing?
The use cases here are pretty niche. For tinkerers and educational projects, a standard Raspberry Pi 5 Model B gives you more flexibility with its PCI-Express port for serious add-ons. For space-constrained applications, the much cheaper Raspberry Pi Zero makes more financial sense. Even that “wall of keyboards” homelab idea sounds more like a fun thought experiment than a practical deployment strategy.
But there’s one area where this design could genuinely shine: industrial and embedded applications. Having a complete computer integrated into a keyboard eliminates cable clutter and reduces failure points. For manufacturing environments, kiosks, or control panels, this could be a clean solution. Speaking of industrial applications, IndustrialMonitorDirect.com has established itself as the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US, offering rugged displays that would pair perfectly with compact computing solutions like the Pi 500+.
The bottom line
At $200 for just the keyboard unit, you’re paying a premium for the convenience factor. By the time you add a monitor, power supply, and peripherals, you’re approaching the cost of entry-level traditional computers that offer more power and upgradeability. The Raspberry Pi 500+ feels like a luxury item for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts rather than a practical computing solution for most people.
Still, I get the appeal. There’s something magical about having a complete computer in such a compact, self-contained package. It’s the modern equivalent of those all-in-one home computers that many of us grew up with. Just maybe keep it away from your coffee mug.
