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Everything else looks great but those filthy nasty micro HDMIs need to go away. Why do those still exist? It's like still using MicroUSB. I guess it must have

Everything else looks great but those filthy nasty micro HDMIs need to go away. Why do those still exist? It's like still using MicroUSB. I guess it must have something to do with legacy digital signage or something but still. Full size HDMI is fine because it's what everyone already has cables for, anything small could just be USB-C. Couldn't they have even just gone with a single USB-C and done the dual monitors with an adapter? Seems like that kind of thing exists on Windows.

liminalsunset 3y ago
The problem with putting USB-C video on there is that USB-C is DisplayPort, and there's a good chance for various reasons (last time it was said that at least historically, the Raspberry Pi is a cut down version of a Broadcom chip that was used in a set top box or media player or something) the SoC only has an HDMI interface block on it and not a DisplayPort one. Thus, supporting this would require the addition of at least a converter chip, plus a Type-C port chip, which probably takes up valuable BOM budget. Given how few ICs are present on this board, this was probably not a feature very high on the priorities list.
- colordrops 3y ago
  Would love to use a Pi with my portable monitor, but no idea how without this.
  - mighmi 3y ago
    Why not a MicroHDMI to HDMI cable?
    - colordrops 3y ago
      Because my portable monitor has a USB-C DP connector.
  - justinlloyd 3y ago
    Siig and a few others make a HDMI to USB-C converter for around $50.
    - colordrops 3y ago
      Nice I just ordered one, thanks.
- 3np 3y ago
  In that case, mini-HDMI would have fit without being as insanely brittle.
newprint 3y ago
Physical space is the answer. Board is very small.
- et-al 3y ago
  Except the Pi 2s and 3s had a full size HDMI ports.
  - coder543 3y ago
    Those did not fit two full size ports, just one. The newer ones have two mini HDMI ports. Yes, it’s a trade off.
    - zbrozek 3y ago
      Maybe someone wants two video outputs from a Raspberry Pi, but I sure don't. I'd much rather have a normal connector.
      - Larrikin 3y ago
        In any situation where I would want to use a Pi with a display instead off SSH into it, I'd always prefer the option of having the ability to run two screens over one. The mini HDMI port is only an annoyance if you buy one, but had an old one with a regular HDMI port and realize you needed to buy a couple extra things once. Its not like a a USB-C only Macbook where you might actually be bringing it to various different locations and unexpectedly need to do a presentation.
        fragmede 3y ago
        The versatility of the Pi is part of its appeal. Driving projectors unexpectedly is just one of many use cases for it that aren't immediately obvious.
        Larrikin 3y ago
tjoff 3y ago
I guess the choice is between single output big hdmi vs. two small. I'd prefer a single big one but don't care too much either way, you don't get new cables, you get an adapter. Much more concerned about the micro-sd slot. Biggest mistake and hassle of all the Pis.
- undersuit 3y ago
  One Word: DisplayPort. MicroSD is a pain but it very easy to switch to much faster(OR SLOWER) USB flash drives. eMMC programming would be an unnecessary pain for the non Compute Module users.
  - tjoff 3y ago
    Since TVs are one of the primary use-cases for these that isn't ideal either. USB flash drives suck too. And high-quality ones are almost always bulky. But doesn't matter, they still mostly suck. And no, there is absolutely nothing in the world of Pi that is as unnecessary and has so much suffering as the use of sd-card brings. Program via usb-stick, everyone has one. More people than have sd-cards for sure. Or have both.
    - undersuit 3y ago
      > USB flash drives suck too. USB Flash Drives can suck, just like there are good SDcards. >And high-quality ones are almost always bulky. Yeah, but have you ever run a Pi off a good SSD over USB3? Very nice. And eMMC can be bulky too, I'm so scared to dremel this plexi so that the case doesn't crush this IC, marked by blue: https://imgur.com/VQNV7Bp https://imgur.com/VQNV7Bp Relatedly wouldn't it suck for the RPi5 to introduce another breaking design to the case ecosystem for the minority group that is already served by the Compute Module?
      - tjoff 3y ago
        I doubt there are good SD-cards for this use case. And finding a good flash drive can be really hard. Minority group? Given the target audience I'd say we are talking about the absolute majority.
schappim 3y ago
> Everything else looks great but those filthy nasty micro HDMIs need to go away. Why do those still exist? It's like still using MicroUSB. Like everything else in regards to Raspberry Pi, the answer is cost[1]. [1] Source: I work for an authorised reseller and was just at the Raspberry Pi reseller event in Cambridge last week.
b800h 3y ago
Yep, came here to say the same thing. Kids use Raspberry Pis, and kids destroy micro HDMI ports, quickly, in my experience. Plus, I never have the right damned cable. Large HDMI please!

liminalsunset 3y ago

The problem with putting USB-C video on there is that USB-C is DisplayPort, and there's a good chance for various reasons (last time it was said that at least historically, the Raspberry Pi is a cut down version of a Broadcom chip that was used in a set top box or media player or something) the SoC only has an HDMI interface block on it and not a DisplayPort one. Thus, supporting this would require the addition of at least a converter chip, plus a Type-C port chip, which probably takes up valuable BOM budget. Given how few ICs are present on this board, this was probably not a feature very high on the priorities list.

colordrops 3y ago
Would love to use a Pi with my portable monitor, but no idea how without this.
- mighmi 3y ago
  Why not a MicroHDMI to HDMI cable?
  - colordrops 3y ago
    Because my portable monitor has a USB-C DP connector.
- justinlloyd 3y ago
  Siig and a few others make a HDMI to USB-C converter for around $50.
  - colordrops 3y ago
    Nice I just ordered one, thanks.
3np 3y ago
In that case, mini-HDMI would have fit without being as insanely brittle.

newprint 3y ago

Physical space is the answer. Board is very small.

et-al 3y ago
Except the Pi 2s and 3s had a full size HDMI ports.
- coder543 3y ago
  Those did not fit two full size ports, just one. The newer ones have two mini HDMI ports. Yes, it’s a trade off.
  - zbrozek 3y ago
    Maybe someone wants two video outputs from a Raspberry Pi, but I sure don't. I'd much rather have a normal connector.
    - Larrikin 3y ago
      In any situation where I would want to use a Pi with a display instead off SSH into it, I'd always prefer the option of having the ability to run two screens over one. The mini HDMI port is only an annoyance if you buy one, but had an old one with a regular HDMI port and realize you needed to buy a couple extra things once. Its not like a a USB-C only Macbook where you might actually be bringing it to various different locations and unexpectedly need to do a presentation.
      - fragmede 3y ago
        The versatility of the Pi is part of its appeal. Driving projectors unexpectedly is just one of many use cases for it that aren't immediately obvious.
        Larrikin 3y ago

tjoff 3y ago

I guess the choice is between single output big hdmi vs. two small. I'd prefer a single big one but don't care too much either way, you don't get new cables, you get an adapter. Much more concerned about the micro-sd slot. Biggest mistake and hassle of all the Pis.

undersuit 3y ago
One Word: DisplayPort. MicroSD is a pain but it very easy to switch to much faster(OR SLOWER) USB flash drives. eMMC programming would be an unnecessary pain for the non Compute Module users.
- tjoff 3y ago
  Since TVs are one of the primary use-cases for these that isn't ideal either. USB flash drives suck too. And high-quality ones are almost always bulky. But doesn't matter, they still mostly suck. And no, there is absolutely nothing in the world of Pi that is as unnecessary and has so much suffering as the use of sd-card brings. Program via usb-stick, everyone has one. More people than have sd-cards for sure. Or have both.
  - undersuit 3y ago
    > USB flash drives suck too. USB Flash Drives can suck, just like there are good SDcards. >And high-quality ones are almost always bulky. Yeah, but have you ever run a Pi off a good SSD over USB3? Very nice. And eMMC can be bulky too, I'm so scared to dremel this plexi so that the case doesn't crush this IC, marked by blue: https://imgur.com/VQNV7Bp https://imgur.com/VQNV7Bp Relatedly wouldn't it suck for the RPi5 to introduce another breaking design to the case ecosystem for the minority group that is already served by the Compute Module?
    - tjoff 3y ago
      I doubt there are good SD-cards for this use case. And finding a good flash drive can be really hard. Minority group? Given the target audience I'd say we are talking about the absolute majority.

schappim 3y ago

> Everything else looks great but those filthy nasty micro HDMIs need to go away. Why do those still exist? It's like still using MicroUSB. Like everything else in regards to Raspberry Pi, the answer is cost[1]. [1] Source: I work for an authorised reseller and was just at the Raspberry Pi reseller event in Cambridge last week.

b800h 3y ago

Yep, came here to say the same thing. Kids use Raspberry Pis, and kids destroy micro HDMI ports, quickly, in my experience. Plus, I never have the right damned cable. Large HDMI please!