The Jetson Nano -  Dirty Secrets
Tags: jetsonnano, ai, nvidia, hardware
Published: 2019-12-23 17:11:15

---
title: The Jetson Nano -  Dirty Secrets
published: true
description: What you should know before you get started with the Jetson Nano
tags: Jetson Nano, AI, NVIDIA, Hardware
cover_image: https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/nnvr3e3yreb4bldcvruu.png
---

# 🙀 JETSON WUH? WAT IZIT?
The NVIDIA Jetson Nano is an amazing little computer. I'd describe it as a lot like a Raspberry Pi, except it has a GPU. Combine that with it's low $99 USD price tag, and AI/ML enthusiasts see a cheap device that can go from desktop to edge with perfect parity. *An ideal machine for an AI in the wild!*

🎅 _Correction: Make that $89 USD today!_
![Sale](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/0jutk3yjvet6jwvm0bac.png)
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/autonomous-machines/embedded-systems/jetson-nano-developer-kit/

## BONUS SELLING POINTS THAT GOT ME EXCITED
1. As a Mac user, I often find myself with a wimpy GPU. This little device might outperform my MacBook Pro for AI/ML training.
2. Some semi-important libraries, like Dlib, aren't built for Windows, so you need a Linux machine to get that GPU bump.
3. Any good excuse for running Linux again.

# My Goal?
I have an old 2012 iMac that sits to the right of my station, that I don't generally use even though I could switch my mouse/keyboard with the press of a button.
![my imac](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/ngc9pzckjv49r221dnqi.png)

Instead, I could replace this space with the Nano. BUT… It's not a crafting table; I'm going to need to close it up like little computer and keep it safe. 

Something like this [GeekWorm](https://geekworm.com/) case will do!
![Completed](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/xu8do7jua2upynbfxo3t.jpg)

Sounds like a plan! I can just order me a $30 case on top the $99, and I'm set!

_*… or am I?*_

# Dirty Secret #1 - Price in Parts
You're not done buying. Time to load your cart up with a few extra items just to get the Nano running.

**SD Card:** Much like the Pi, the SD card is not included. Most of us are used to this for edge devices. Since I want a desktop-level device, I sprung for the 256GB micro card. [**+$35 USD**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0758NHWS8/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

**Power:** The 5v 2a USB power supply can't handle peripherals. SURPRISE! You'll need to get a 5v 4a barrel jack so you don't lose your screen. [**+$14 USD**](https://www.amazon.com/ALITOVE-Converter-5-5x2-1mm-100V-240V-Security/dp/B078RT3ZPS/)

**Fan:** Some cases come with fans. The one I got did not. Throw a 5v fan in to cool the GPU. [**+$15 USD**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071FNHVXN/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

**Wifi + Bluetooth:** Unlike the latest Pi devices, there's no WiFi or Bluetooth, so you'll have to buy that card separately. [**+$21 USD**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZA1AB2/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

**Antenna:** The WiFi card does not include antennas. I was crazy and attached an internal antenna inside on the first port, and with the second antenna, I ran it to the external of the case. [**+$14 USD**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E29566W/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

This sneaks the price of my desktop from $130 (device + case) up to $230. 

> **TL:DR;** While this modular system lets you keep the price down if you're embedding the Jetson Nano into a device for the field, it's a bit of a sticker shock from the original $99 price you might have been considering.

### Dirty Secret #2 --- DIY Only

This device is perfect for the computer builder, the robot maker, and the all-out puzzle solver. If you've got a workshop, you'll be happy!

*If you don't have a workshop or time, you're in trouble.*

![Workshop](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/50l9qu7guv7tf1fxt6k6.jpg)

The screw holes for the fan are not tapped, the parts unpacked fill a small table, and the card installation requires a little know-how. It's like IKEA furniture. If this is your first time, it's going to take a while, and as soon as you're done, you'll reflect on how you could have done it in a quarter of that time.

While I've done some wild stuff with Raspberry Pi's, I'll admit I was looking up all kinds of conversions while I was at the hardware store, and ultimately over-buying just to assure I wasn't going to get the wrong size.

![Tapping tool](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/gfwpxcr787zxq1qxk42u.jpg)

> **TL:DR;** Nothing replaces that feeling you get when you dress the wires and screw the final screws, but it's important to note you're going to need to do all that yourself 👆 --- it's quite a barrier between purchase and use!

### Dirty Secret #3--- You're Still Not Ready Yet?

Finally! I've got this little black box sitting on my desk, it's wired up, tested, and ready to go! I load up Ubuntu, and I go to install a package, and.... pip is not installed. Python is there, but quite a few common libraries you'd expect to be on the image are completely missing.

![waiting](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/buh39l6v2yogs3ywynzu.jpg)

Now I get that you might not need everything... but for those of us who do, we've got a big install ahead of us, and given that it's a small CPU, we've got **hours of installs**. 

Fortunately, here's a fantastic article that enumerates the next few hours of your life: <https://www.pyimagesearch.com/2019/05/06/getting-started-with-the-nvidia-jetson-nano/>

This tutorial doesn't get OpenCV running, so you'll need to build that from source. Hopefully, we'll find a good tutorial for that soon.

> **TL:DR;** You can expect hours of setup before running your first project on the device.

# The Dirty Summary
![Dirty](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/p6an9nesg537ggv9v8aa.png)

I guess the big issue is BTB (barriers to bench-marking). If you're looking to simply evaluate the Jetson Nano as a tool, you're biting off days of ancillary tasks and unknown costs to pit this device against an old laptop or phone.

The on-boarding isn't necessarily difficult, just significant. The playful whimsicality of "trying it out" like most people do a Raspberry Pi is absent unless your idea of trying it out is having the budget and time to tinker. This begs for someone to ship a "Getting Started" kit or pre-built enclosures with all the headache removed.

Maybe I'm betraying my developer/engineer psyche by appealing to a marketing "Do it for me" approach, but as more edge devices emerge, I believe onboarding time saved is customer interest earned.

-----

#### Next Steps: 

I'll be evaluating the Jetson Nano as a friendly second computer. Benchmarking it, playing with it, and hopefully writing more about the experience! Be sure to follow me on here and other social outlets for updates!

![Nano Zoom](https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/33kcp35tmuxnnu4hss8x.gif)

--------------

[Gant Laborde](https://medium.com/u/6ca0fe37eac1?source=post_page-----a1d0ab879cb9----------------------) is Chief Innovation Officer at [Infinite Red](http://infinite.red/), published author, adjunct professor, worldwide public speaker, and mad scientist in training. Clap/follow/[tweet](https://twitter.com/GantLaborde) or visit him [at a conference](http://gantlaborde.com/).

See more about Machine Learning here: [FunMachineLearn Twitter](https://twitter.com/FunMachineLearn) and here <https://infinite.red/machinelearning>

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