QUANTA

Monday, May 9, 2011

Raspberry Pi: a $25 computer on a stick

May 9, 2011

$25 Raspberry Pi computer runs Ubuntu Linux (12 Megapixel camera not included) (credit: Raspberry Pi Foundation)

An ultra-low-cost computer for use in teaching computer programming to children has been developed by The Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK registered charity.

The first version is about the size of a USB key, and is designed to plug into a TV or be combined with a touch screen for a low cost tablet. The expected price is $25 for a fully configured system.

Raspberry Pi’s mission recalls other projects that have attempted to make low-cost computers available to kids, like the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative’s dream of $100 Internet-ready laptops worldwide, or a $35 tablet from India. OLPC has had some notable successes in places like Uruguay, but has run into problems delivering on its low-cost promises — a challenge Raspberry Pi will also face, and with even fewer resources.

The computer is essentially an ARM processor, USB port, and HDMI connection. Connect it to a keyboard and a television or monitor and you have a fully functional Linux system.

Source: http://goo.gl/TYtvf

Source and/or and/or more resources and/or read more: http://goo.gl/JujXk ─ Publisher and/or Author and/or Managing Editor:__Andres Agostini ─ @Futuretronium at Twitter! Futuretronium Book at http://goo.gl/JujXk