According to my Amazon order history, the battery pack I have is this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BR22HX8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's about as thick as a Pi 2/3 in the official Raspbery Pi Foundation
case and a rounded square between the width and length of the Pi 2/3
in case. Has 4000 mah capacity if I remember correctly, charges via
USB microB and has two USB-A ports for powering other devices.
Unfortunately, it has a push button power switch and no non-visual
indicator of how much charge remains or whether it's on. Granted, it's
listed as currently unavailable on Amazon and I bought it in september
of 2016, so it might be discontinued and even if it is still
available, there are probably better battery packs out there.
And while using a Pi didn't net me any extra credit in class, when I
took a Database class that focused heavily on sql, I was like the only
person in class the professor didn't have to give a crash course in
Linux before delving into mysql.
And while money is tighter than it was when I put together a Raspberry
setup that allowed me to carry everything except the keyboard in a
fanny pack(In 2016, my dad was still alive and paying the rent and
most of the grocery bill, things I've had to pay myself since his
death in 2017), I must confess my lack of upgrade is less about it
being totally out of my budget and more about it not being a priority
and not wanting to spread the needed purchases over two or three
months. Even before covid19 started shutting everything down, I didn't
get out of the house much and so don't have a pressing need for a
portable computer, the only thing I can really do on my Desktop Linux
box I can't do on the Pi 3 is run Firefox with Orca, and while the Pi
4 is the most expensive thinng, it's hardly the only thing I'd
need(I've got SD cards to spare, can use the same keyboard and
earphones I use with my Desktop, but the different board lay out means
a new case, the Pi 4 would be my first USB-C device, requiring a new
cable if not a new power supply entirely, and while my understanding
is that heatsinks are optional for the Pi 3 unless you're really
pushing it or using it in a hot or poorly ventilated environment, I
understand the Pi 4 pretty much requires a fan).
And yeah, totally agreed that I wish it was easier to shop for things
in a way that lets me get hands on with products. Sadly, I live in the
boonies of Northeastern North Carolina, about the only thing local as
far as shopping goes is a Wal-Mart with lousy selection for a
Wal-Mart. The nearest halfway decent mall is like a hour away and
across the NC-Virginia line, a big enough inconvenience for someone
with a Driver's license and their own car. Might as well be on the
moon for a blind person, especially one who has enough trouble getting
a ride to said local Wal-Mart to buy groceries... so wish I could
afford to move to Raleigh.
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