Early Photoshop runs on £0.60 Raspberry Pi chip

A tech enthusiast has successfully run an early version of Adobe Photoshop on a Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller, a chip that costs approximately £0.60. The project demonstrates the extreme disparity between the cost of professional computing power in the late 20th century and the capabilities of modern, low-cost semiconductors.

To achieve the feat, the developer used the RP2350 to emulate a vintage Apple Macintosh SE. The emulated system was capable of running not only early Photoshop but also WordPerfect 1.0. Technically, the RP2350 chip utilizes two 150MHz processors and supports 4Mb of RAM alongside gigabytes of storage. The original 1989 price of a Macintosh SE was £3,495, which equates to approximately £9,554 today when adjusted for inflation.

The shift toward permacomputing

This experiment is part of a larger exploration into "minimal viable modern computers." The author of the project draws ideological parallels to the Solarpunk and Permacomputing movements, which advocate for sustainable, low-power technology. The goal is to move away from the resource-heavy nature of modern hardware and the addictive design of high-power devices that often lead to increased electronic waste.

While the author notes that the complexity of the modern web makes full internet browsing nearly impossible on such limited hardware, the chips remain capable of supporting simpler, lightweight protocols. Examples include IRC or the Gemini protocol, the latter of which has been previously demonstrated by Adafruit.

Why the downgrade matters

The project serves as a stark reminder of the efficiency gains in semiconductor technology. A chip costing less than a dollar can now fully replicate the functionality of a professional workstation that once cost thousands of pounds. Beyond the technical novelty, it prompts a critical discussion on whether intentionally "downgrading" hardware could foster a more private and less distracting computing experience.

Looking ahead

As the Permacomputing movement grows, the focus remains on how to balance modern utility with environmental sustainability. While the RP2350 can handle legacy professional software, the challenge remains in determining which modern essential services can be stripped down to run on such efficient, low-cost hardware without sacrificing the core utility of the device.