I ran Photoshop on a £0.60 computer chip
A hobbyist successfully emulated an Apple Macintosh on a low-cost Raspberry Pi RP2350 chip, running legacy software like Photoshop and WordPerfect. The project demonstrates the extreme efficiency and accessibility of modern low-power computing.
Why it matters
It showcases how modern hardware can emulate historical computing environments at a fraction of the original cost, sparking interest in minimal computing.
I've always had a fascination with simpler and low power computing. This lead me to run Photoshop on a 60 pence computer chip and it amazes me that this is possible.
Photo: A monochrome screen showing Adobe photoshop with a simple drawing running on an emulated Apple Macintosh
OK; this is hardly editing a full colour, highly detailed photograph but at least my "self portrait" will obviously set the illustration world on fire.
This was done by emulating an old Apple Mac on a Raspberry Pi RP2350 chip, which can be purchased for around 60p . Add the various extra parts needed and say roughly that a mid 1990s equivalent computer can be built today for a few pounds in one-off quantities. Call it the price of coffee and a cake in a European café today.
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