The Pi screen desktop looks much like a simplified Mac or PC. It is a

conventional graphical user interface, or GUI, but LXTerminal is close

at hand – and needed.

CONCLUSION

Unfortunately, overall, I found at times the Pi could be frustrating and somewhat impossible. 

Using the Pi requires at least a basic understanding of software and an understanding of command line drive, meaning what command line code is required, as well as typing it in without error. 

Without at least an intermediate level of understanding of computers the Pi can be a frustration, despite being designed to be easy to run.

   One of the most popular uses for the Pi is as a standalone music player for use anywhere where there is a micro-USB connection, such as in the living room or the bedroom. 

Firstly, however, in order to perform this function you must buy an audio card to attach to the Pi. The card I used was the Cirrus Logic audio card, which possesses a 3.5mm jack for headphone output with microphone facility, a digital stereo audio input and output, an onboard power amplifier for directly driving loudspeakers and is capable of rendering HD audio at 24-bit, 192kHz. 

Music can be transported to the Pi using a USB key (memory stick), or by transferring files directly to the micro-SD card. 

   The standard Raspberry Pi OS has a default music player called LXmusic. However, I found the music player both basic and simple – and it refused to play the tracks until we fully understood, through experiment – its limited abilities. 

   However, other music players exist,  created to enhance Raspberry Pi as a music player, the most notable being PiMusicBox and RuneAudio. 

RuneAudio and PiMusicBox are free – open source software that enable you to turn the Pi into a dedicated hi-fi music player to replace the personal computer, with a smaller, low power, quiet board. 

One of the main purposes of this software is to get the best possible sound quality out of the Pi by optimising the Pi for the best performance.  There's plenty to experiment with, making this absorbing if you like computers.

   Various external cards are available too, including audio cards.

We used Raspberry Pi in conjunction with a Cirrus Logic audio card - see Audio Pi for our review of this card.

For more see...

https://www.raspberrypi.org

http://www.element14.com

Amazon and Maplins also sell Raspberry Pi, Pi kits and accessories.