If you want to quickly install Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB) onto a Raspberry Pi, please start by reading IIAB Images for Raspberry Pi.

The pros and cons of different OS's (below) serve as a supplement to the above.

Finally, see also What OS should I use? within FAQ.IIAB.IO, and the longer IIAB Platforms document.

1. The Graphical Desktop showcases the services and functions of the Raspberry Pi and its most used OS.
2. Skills learned on other OS's transfer more easily during IIAB setup.
3. There is a wide selection of programs which permit using this image as a stand alone computer. The image is dual-purpose — as both a client and server.
4. RealVNC has apparently licensed their remote desktop server to Raspberry Pi Foundation. This version of the VNC server provides a WiFi remote GUI connection. It lets clients authenticate via regular Linux user/password credentials which greatly simplifies server security.
5. As a first trial run, this image greatly simplifies setting up a Raspberry Pi, and trying IIAB. It eliminates the need for separate purchase of a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and miscellaneous video cables — assuming that a VNC viewer can be installed on the laptop or desktop used to download images and copy them to the microSD card.

1. Raspberry Pi OS with desktop uses several more GB of disk space, as compared to Raspberry Pi OS Lite.
2. The Graphical Desktop uses about 200KB of memory. This was more of an issue with early Raspberry Pi's that had just 256MB or 512MB of memory — whereas recent Raspberry Pi 4's come with 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB.
3. If used as a teacher's computer at the front of the classroom, it's use as a regular computer might unintentionally contribute to less reliable server performance for the rest of the class.

1. Best for low-powered hardware like the Raspberry Pi Zero W or Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.
2. Small disk footprint. Allows a few more GB of content to be installed on your microSD card.
3. IIAB does not compete for memory that might otherwise be used by a Graphical Desktop.
4. Raspberry Pi OS supplies a text mode configuration utility (raspi-config) which simplifies many tasks.

1. Configuration of the OS requires more knowledge, and more text editing.
2. No Graphical Desktop. Most computer users are familiar with the Desktop supplied by Windows, Mac, or Linux OS's.
3. New users will find it more difficult to explore what Raspberry Pi OS offers without a Graphical Desktop.
4. If used on a Raspberry Pi Zero W or Zero 2 W, the lower hardware performance might limit the number of clients.

1. In 2020, this 64-bit OS was measured to be about 15% faster than 32-bit RasPiOS. (However in 2022, 64-bit RasPiOS was measured to be "48% faster" than 32-bit RasPiOS...)

1. The ease of use of Raspberry Pi OS, advanced by the continuous refinement and feedback from "11 million users" is not available. The best example of this is the lack of raspi-config which permits easy refinement of a downloaded image in a Terminal, or using the very similar graphical menus of Raspberry Pi OS with desktop.