Raspberry PI OS Review

A Lightweight Linux Distribution Designed for Raspberry Pi Hardware

Discovery

If you have ever experimented with Raspberry Pi hardware, chances are you have already encountered Raspberry Pi OS. It is the operating system officially recommended by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and is commonly used for projects such as Pi-Hole network filtering, retro gaming systems, home automation, media centers, and DIY servers.

Raspberry Pi OS is based on Debian Linux, but unlike many desktop-focused Linux distributions, it is intentionally designed to stay lightweight and efficient. The operating system avoids flashy visual effects and unnecessary software in favor of speed, reliability, and low hardware requirements. This makes it ideal for compact single-board computers that have limited processing power and memory.

At first glance, Raspberry Pi OS can feel extremely basic compared to more polished Linux distributions such as Linux Mint or Ubuntu. However, after spending time with it, the simplicity starts to make sense. The operating system is built to power projects rather than impress users with visual extras.

Installation

#1

My first Raspberry Pi OS installation was completed inside a Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machine as part of a learning exercise. At the time, I did not yet have actual Raspberry Pi hardware available for testing. I downloaded the latest ISO image, used the default installation settings, and the operating system installed without any issues.

#2

Later, I decided to test Raspberry Pi OS on physical hardware using an older HP desktop computer that I acquired for free. The machine originally lacked both memory and storage, so I installed 8GB of salvaged RAM along with a spare 512GB SSD. Using Balena Etcher, I created a bootable USB drive and installed Raspberry Pi OS directly onto the system.

Performance on the recycled desktop hardware was surprisingly good. Even though the system used an older Intel i3 processor, it still outperformed actual Raspberry Pi 4 hardware by a noticeable margin. The experience demonstrated one of the strengths of Raspberry Pi OS: it can breathe new life into aging computers that may struggle with heavier operating systems.

The installation process itself was simple and beginner-friendly. Most users can complete the setup in under 20 minutes.

Raspberry Pi OS Features and Everyday Uses

One of the biggest strengths of Raspberry Pi OS is its versatility. Although many people think of Raspberry Pi boards as hobbyist devices, the operating system can power a surprising number of real-world applications.

One of the most common uses is running Pi-hole, which blocks ads and tracking across an entire home network. This setup allows every connected device, including smart TVs and smartphones, to benefit from network-wide ad filtering without installing browser extensions.

Another popular use is home automation. Raspberry Pi OS works extremely well with platforms like Home Assistant, allowing users to control smart lights, security cameras, thermostats, and other connected devices from a single dashboard.

Many retro gaming enthusiasts also use Raspberry Pi OS as the foundation for gaming emulation systems. Projects like RetroPie transform inexpensive Raspberry Pi hardware into compact retro consoles capable of playing classic games from systems such as Nintendo, Sega, and PlayStation.

Small businesses and IT professionals often use Raspberry Pi OS for lightweight server tasks. It can function as a file server, print server, web server, DNS server, VPN gateway, or even a cybersecurity testing platform. Schools and educational environments also rely heavily on Raspberry Pi systems because they provide students with an affordable way to learn Linux, Python programming, networking, and electronics.

For media streaming, Raspberry Pi OS can power software like Kodi, turning the device into a low-cost home theater system. Some users even deploy Raspberry Pi systems for digital signage in stores and restaurants due to their low power consumption and reliability.

Hyper-V Settings for Raspi

For my testing, I decided to install Raspi as a virtual machine instead of using dedicated hardware. Running Linux inside Hyper-V makes it much easier to experiment without risking changes to your main Windows installation. If you are only testing Linux or learning the basics, virtualization is one of the safest and most convenient ways to get started.

This section assumes you already have some experience working with Hyper-V. The following settings were the minimum hardware requirements that worked reliably in my test environment. If you plan to use Ubuntu as a full-time operating system, you will probably want to allocate additional memory, processor power, and storage space for better performance.

Once the virtual machine is created, simply boot from the Ubuntu ISO image and follow the installation prompts. The setup process is straightforward and beginner-friendly. After assigning your administrator password and completing the installation, the system should be ready to use within minutes.

Hyper-V Settings at a glance:

• Security = Key Storage Drive Disabled
• Generation = 1 (IMPORTANT! - Will not boot if set incorrectly.)
• RAM = 2048 or more, (non-dynamic)
• Virtual Processors = 2 or more
• Virtual Hard-Disk = 100 Gig or more
• Network Adapter = vSwitch
• Integration Services = Check everything
• Checkpoints = disabled
• Page Files = disabled
• Autostart = None
• Automatic Stop = Power Off

Windows Hyper-V Video Settings for Debian Based Distros

One issue I encountered involved screen resolution settings while running Raspberry Pi OS inside Hyper-V. Like many Debian-based Linux distributions, the display resolution does not automatically resize when the Hyper-V window changes size.

Fortunately, this can usually be corrected through a manual GRUB bootloader configuration. While it requires some command-line editing, the fix is relatively simple for users familiar with Linux configuration files.

SMB Support

Raspberry Pi OS includes excellent SMB support through Samba, allowing it to communicate smoothly with Windows systems on a local network. Shared folders and printers worked exactly as expected during testing.

The first connection to a shared drive may take a moment while the system locates the network resource, but after entering credentials, access becomes seamless. I found it useful to bookmark shared folders within the file manager to speed up future access.

This interoperability makes Raspberry Pi OS surprisingly practical in mixed Windows and Linux environments.

Software Availability

Although Raspberry Pi OS is lightweight, it still provides access to a large software library thanks to its Debian foundation. Popular applications such as LibreOffice, VLC Media Player, GIMP, Chromium, and programming tools are all available through the built-in software manager.

I initially installed Raspberry Pi OS specifically to run Pi-hole on a headless system that could be remotely managed through SSH. I also used Python scripts to automate updates and maintenance tasks. Eventually, I migrated Pi-hole to my Synology NAS, but Raspberry Pi OS handled the workload without problems during testing.

For users comfortable with Linux command-line tools, Raspberry Pi OS can become an incredibly flexible platform for automation and experimentation.

Raspberry Pi OS Strengths and Weaknesses

Raspberry Pi OS excels in efficiency. It runs smoothly on extremely modest hardware and consumes very little system memory compared to larger Linux distributions. The operating system is stable, lightweight, and highly customizable. It also benefits from a massive online community filled with tutorials, forums, and DIY project ideas.

Another major advantage is affordability. Raspberry Pi systems consume very little electricity, making them ideal for always-on applications such as servers and smart home controllers.

However, Raspberry Pi OS does have limitations. Users expecting a polished desktop experience similar to Windows may find the interface too minimalistic. Out of the box, the operating system lacks many conveniences found in distributions like Linux Mint or Ubuntu.

Compared to Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi OS uses fewer system resources and performs better on low-end hardware. Ubuntu, however, provides a more modern desktop environment and broader support for productivity users.

Compared to Linux Mint, Raspberry Pi OS feels far more stripped down. Linux Mint is generally the better choice for users seeking a daily desktop operating system, while Raspberry Pi OS shines when used for dedicated projects, embedded systems, or lightweight server tasks.

Software compatibility can occasionally present challenges as well. Some desktop applications are optimized for x86 processors rather than ARM-based Raspberry Pi hardware. This can limit performance or software availability depending on the project.

Final Thoughts

Raspberry Pi OS is not really intended to compete with traditional desktop operating systems. Instead, it is designed to serve as a reliable platform for experimentation, automation, education, networking, and small-scale server deployments.

For users wanting a full-featured Linux desktop replacement, Linux Mint or Ubuntu are usually better choices. However, if your goal is to build a Pi-hole server, automate your home, create a retro gaming console, learn Linux, or repurpose older hardware, Raspberry Pi OS is an outstanding option.

Its lightweight design, strong community support, and flexibility make it one of the most practical Linux distributions available for hobbyists, students, IT professionals, and makers alike.