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Raspberry Pi: rise of the $25 computer
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Etmax
All comes down to volumes if you want it for $25. a small arm chip running ...
Jeff.Petro
It would have to be a very light custom OS. Built from sctatch perhaps?
David Braben has a big idea crammed into a tiny frame. He and fellow members of the British nonprofit Raspberry Pi have designed a rugged computer powerful enough to perhaps inspire a generation of future programmers, yet cheap enough that schools can hand them out free of charge.
The machine isn't much to look at. It's little more than chips on a stick. But Mr. Braben says that by next year, this ugly duckling of a prototype could grow into $25 computers tailored to students across Britain.
"Raspberry Pi came from a seemingly unrelated problem," says Braben, who's also chairman of Frontier Developments, a video-game company in Britain. He felt that the number of qualified computer science graduates had declined over the years. Curious, he consulted teachers and grew concerned about what he found.
The machine isn't much to look at. It's little more than chips on a stick. But Mr. Braben says that by next year, this ugly duckling of a prototype could grow into $25 computers tailored to students across Britain.
"Raspberry Pi came from a seemingly unrelated problem," says Braben, who's also chairman of Frontier Developments, a video-game company in Britain. He felt that the number of qualified computer science graduates had declined over the years. Curious, he consulted teachers and grew concerned about what he found.
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eewiz
7/17/2011 8:38 AM EDT
It doesnt have a display,keyboard or storage. Looks more like some development kit, than a computer. No wonder the cost is just 25 bucks.
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Jeff.Petro
7/19/2011 10:17 AM EDT
While I don't necessarily see this taking off as a computer per se, I could see this product being the basis for the wired home. I could see one of these integrated into a fridge, coffee maker or even a toaster.
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Max the Magnificent
7/20/2011 10:41 AM EDT
Interesting idea -- what's the operating system?
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Jeff.Petro
7/20/2011 11:04 AM EDT
It would have to be a very light custom OS. Built from sctatch perhaps?
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Etmax
7/20/2011 2:49 PM EDT
All comes down to volumes if you want it for $25. a small arm chip running FreeRTOS or Android?? I think the mistake is having it so small that your average budding enthusiast can't get let alone solder the miniature connectors on it (judging by the description and apparent size). If instead it was a little larger and had perhaps a DB9/DBHD15, a small wall wart socket etc, (macro rather that micro) it might cost $2-$5 more but would be more accessible. I have 2 $500 soldering irons for fine work, if I was using a Radioshack iron which is what most students here and overseas would have their eyes on, I'd be unlikely to be able to do much on the UK device. That's my 2 bob's worth :-)
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