raspberry pi (am I the only one *very* excited by this?)

[statto]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

This seems to have a lot more potential from a software development point of view than OLPC, and it seems tailor made for developing countries. I also think it may do for programming what the BBC Model B and Spectrum did in the early '80s.

The idea of a computer for £15 (or £23 if you want a network port) is amazing. The geek in me wants about five of these to mess about with. Doesn't hurt that it's strictly Linux only too.

[RonnyJ]

I really want a couple of these to tinker with. It's amazing really where technology is right now.

I wonder how many orders they will get, and how they'll organise it. If the product does what it says, I can see demand being huge, and many people wanting several of them.

[DJBenson]

I first saw this on Click (the BBC's technology programme) a couple of months ago and am really excited at the prospects for these.

Imagine them running Mythbuntu as front ends to a Myth TV server, for the price you could have one in every room and create a true multi-room multimedia suite very cheaply.

[bigsimes]

looks very interesting. Will be awesome if they manage to pull this off.

[bumfrog]

not in the same price league, but very similar

http://en.ellion.es/TVRoi-T1/

[w_n_s]

yup, can't wait for these. Lots of applications.

[JamesK]

So would these be a good cheap way to get a novice in to, say, Ubuntu?

[akira9000]

At that price I think devs/tech people would have a hard time not buying one

[AndyWilson]

They should make buy one/donate one the only way of getting it in countries where PCs etc are commonplace.

[w_n_s]

Originally Posted by AndyWilson

They should make buy one/donate one the only way of getting it in countries where PCs etc are commonplace.

Then they will push a lot of people away from buying one.


What they should do is sell to non-schools / non-poor people at slightly more of a profit. They can then pump the profit into R&D and make the product better and cheaper while not putting off those who loath to buy one and donate one.

[njc]

There's nothing stopping you buying two and donating one.

[dbilsborough]

looks really interesting, will definitely buy one to play with

[AndyWilson]

Originally Posted by njc

There's nothing stopping you buying two and donating one.

If I buy one that's probably what I'll do - it's an option they say they'll offer - but considering that in the UK at least they'll be literally cheap at twice the price, why not charge twice the price and donate one for every one they sell? To quote their website:

We plan to develop, manufacture and distribute an ultra-low-cost computer, for use in teaching computer programming to children. We expect this computer to have many other applications both in the developed and the developing world.

...not toys for us geeks with disposable income to play with. Without an "enforced donation" scheme I can see them all being bought by geeks and schools etc having problems getting hold of them.

[JamesK]

The more orders there are, the cheaper per unit they will become to produce, due to economies of scale.

[njc]

.

[statto]

Originally Posted by AndyWilson

If I buy one that's probably what I'll do - it's an option they say they'll offer - but considering that in the UK at least they'll be literally cheap at twice the price, why not charge twice the price and donate one for every one they sell? To quote their website:


...not toys for us geeks with disposable income to play with. Without an "enforced donation" scheme I can see them all being bought by geeks and schools etc having problems getting hold of them.

If you look at the video on the website they estimate that a single person donating £500 would be able to supply an entire class with these (if you factor in gift aid), and they also state that it's the cost of a textbook, so I don't think schools will have problems getting hold of them.

I also think you jump to conclusions about this being cheap for everyone in the UK. There are a great many people who would just about be able to justify spending this much money (and I can imagine kids spending a couple of weeks paper round money to get one). Double the price wouldn't really be cheap either (it would be £50 for the model B with the buyer still needing to get a display, keyboard, probably a mouse and wifi dongle. I've just bought a netbook off here for £79 so that puts into perspective how expensive £50 would be).

I reckon they've got the model just about right. They're getting amazing levels of interest coming from the developing world at their current price point, and the hordes of geeky hobbyists who will produce interesting software and come up with ingenious uses for this will add massive value to the device.

[JamesK]

Originally Posted by njc

In the case of AndyWilson you're arguing someone who loves to dictate how other people should spend their money. Economics doesn't come into it.

yes, it came across as very lefty already, but thought I'd try and explain done simple economics.

[hookbeak]

The more of "us geeks" that buy them, the more support there will be, more software written for it, more knowledge about it, more mods and applications discovered for it.

If geeks get hold of them there will be a huge community spring up. Making it harder or more expensive for these people to get them makes no sense on any level.

[cervaro]

I think the tinkering/media player uses appeals to me most as already mentioned. A return to the simple days of the early home computers is very welcome as far as I'm concerned :-)

[AndyWilson]

Originally Posted by JamesK

yes, it came across as very lefty already, but thought I'd try and explain done simple economics.

If only economics were that simple.

Anyway - I've dragged it off topic, sorry, but I can see early shipments of this going the way of the HP tablet