Bare bones Raspberry Pi PC gets ready to launch

snapman

VIP Member
Staff member
VIP Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
3,327
Reaction score
3,055
The eagerly anticipated Raspberry Pi home computer is about to go into production.

The $25 (£16) machine is being created in the hope that it will inspire a new generation of technology whizz kids.

The Pi uses an Arm chip similar to that found in mobile phones and is intended to run a version of the Linux open source operating system.

raspberrypicircuitboard.jpg

Many developers are keen to get their hands on the bare bones Raspberry Pi computer.


Test versions of finished devices are being checked and if all is well volume production will start in January.

The idea for Raspberry Pi came from video game veteran David Braben who was searching for a way to inspire young people to start a career in technology.

Mr Braben got his start in games thanks to the BBC Micro on which he, and school friend Ian Bell, created pioneering computer game Elite.

Raspberry Pi is being developed in Cambridgeshire and every update has been watched closely by those keen to get working with the gadget. Raspberry Pi took to its blog on 23 December to report that the first finished circuit boards had arrived.

The batch of bare bones circuit boards are the first to be populated with all the components making up the finished device. The batch is undergoing electrical, software and hardware testing to ensure all is well in the production process.

"Once we're happy that this test run is fine, we'll be pushing the button immediately on full-scale manufacture in more than one factory," wrote Liz Upton on the blog..

The finished device will be sold in two configurations. A Model A for $25 (£16) which lacks a network connector and a Model B for $35 (£22) which does have an Ethernet socket.

Ms Upton said if the tests go well the first batch of 10 boards will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Raspberry Pi initially intended to finish its machine by the end of 2011. However, it said, delays in development meant it was now about three weeks behind schedule.

Despite this, it anticipates that people will be able to place orders for the gadgets in early January. No pre-orders have been taken because the organisation said it did not want to take anyone's cash without having something to hand over in return.

Our technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones previewed the Raspberry Pi in May posted a video of the device on a blog

Source: BBC News: Technology
 
Last edited:
looks fun I wonder if it could run enigma2 would be good for XMBC or stick in a usb tuner and use as a sat reciver. I want one to have a play with.
 
Does it have a LAN socket?

oops, yes it does, the version I saw was a prototype with no LAN. :)

That's right up my street that sort of thing, where do I order? :)

I'd like to build mine into the case of a keyboard or mouse having all the interfacing wires/sockets housed further along the cable.
 
Last edited:
I noticed one of the Devs has developed a breakout board allowing it to control external hardware such as lights and motors, it's starting to grow already even before release. I spotted one with a HSF aswell, lol, probably a mad overclocker. :)
 
It is an ARM development board. The price is alright but what else sets this apart from other development boards?
 
Yes it's a Dev Board but show me a Dev Board that comes with that hardware as standard and for that price.

I think you'll find that to get that functionality from a Dev Board typically cost's considerably more.

...plus David Braben is behind it, so it's got to be good. :)
 
Yes it's a Dev Board but show me a Dev Board that comes with that hardware as standard and for that price.

I think you'll find that to get that functionality from a Dev Board typically cost's considerably more.

...plus David Braben is behind it, so it's got to be good. :)

My cynical sides tell me that is was designed on whatever was going cheap.

I don't know the specs of the board or processor or if it has in integrated MAC for Ethernet, I see a chip near the socket but it might be the USB UART, I guess it has a MMU since it can run Linux.

Why is it cheap?
 
Was the idea behind the project to make it as cheap as possible, thus allowing for anyone in the world to be able to purchase one and have some PC functionality.

It caught my eye on Google+ this morning and having read about it they do look like a nice bit of kit. I am thinking hooked to the back of the TV running Linux and Skype. Wireless keyboard and mouse and making a bit of a DIY SMART TV.
 
this looks promising to me, i was looking at a in car computer a couple of years back, this little number may make me take another look.
 
Back
Top