Tiny, affordable PC with charitable focus available soon
The Raspberry Pi, a small, Linux-based PC developed by the charitable organization, Raspberry Pi Foundation, is set to hit the market next month at the jaw-dropping price of $25.
Raspberry Pi beta board, top view. (Via: raspberrypi.org)
Raspberry Pi beta board, back view. (Via: raspberrypi.org)
If you’ve never heard of it before, here are five brief points on it:
1. It probably isn’t for you.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation built this computer to help schools offer computer sciences. It is programmable which, when coupled with its low price point, allows schools all over the world the chance to provide students affordable platforms to tinker with. The computer primarily uses Python programming language, but it also supports BBC BASIC, C, and Perl. Other languages that have support for Linux and ARM will also be available.
Developing nations are particularly interested in the Raspberry Pi, not only for their schools, but also for hospitals, museums and other fields, all of which could greatly benefit from having a quality, low-cost computer on hand.
For the electronics hobbyists out there, the Raspberry Pi has potential uses in DIY robotics, vehicle entertainment systems, and other computing projects.
2. There are two models
Two versions of the Raspberry Pi will be available: Model A and Model B.
• Model A will be $25 with 128MB of RAM and no network connectivity.
• Model B will be $35 with 256MB of RAM and an Ethernet.
Both models have USB and HDMI ports as well as analog and video outputs. Video is powered by a 700MHz ARM11 SoC with support for OpenGL ES 2.0 and 1080p30 H.264 video playback.
Power comes from a 5-volt micro USB connection, though it can also run off 4 AA batteries. Debian, Fedora and ArchLinux are planned to be bundled with the Raspberry Pi from the start and the team is planning on selling SD cards with the distros preloaded, too.
Design plans for both models. (Via: raspberrypi.org)
Models do not include a built-in hard disk or solid-state drive; rather, the computer will rely on an SD card for long-term storage.
3. Some additional specifics
The Raspberry Pi is tiny – it weighs 45 grams and its dimensions measure 85.6mm x 53.98mm x 17mm, with a little overlap for the SD card and connectors which project over the edges.
The SoC they’re using is Broadcom BCM2835. There is a GPU binary, and it also contains the first stage bootloader.
Power over Ethernet is not yet possible and the computer does not support WINE, Windows, or x86 software.
4. A few how to’s:
• Functioning: A mouse, keyboard, network adapter and external storage can all be connected via the USB port.
• Seeing: You can hook it up to a digital or analogue television or to a DVI monitor via the composite and HDMI ports. There is no VGA support, but adaptors are available.
• Hearing: There’s a standard 3.5mm jack, or you can use the HDMI port. You can also add any supported USB microphone via a hub.
5. Ordering
While you will be able to place an order for a single Raspberry Pi, the foundation plans on implementing a “buy one, give one” sort of program, so be on the lookout for that (nice way to get these computers into the hands of people that need them.) There won’t be any minimum order required, nor will there be any limits on where they can ship: they plan on selling the Raspberry Pi worldwide from the get-go.
Volunteer to help the cause: learn how at raspberrypi.org ■
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