Raspberry Pi signs big-name sellers
RS Components, Element 14 to offer programming computer
Educationally inclined microcomputer maker Raspberry Pi today revealed that its ARM-based credit card-sized machine is to be taken to coders worldwide by two big-name suppliers.
Lining up to offer the tiny machine come RS Components, part of London Stock Exchange-listed Electrocomponents Plc, and Premier Farnell's Element 14, a collaborative engineering community and online electronics store.
Element 14 and RS Components will make the Raspberry Pi available to programmers and anyone else who likes to mess around with code across the globe.
The Raspberry Pi Model B
The suppliers will take on the heavy lifting of distributing the Raspberry Pi, allowing the computer's developer, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, to focus its attention on the kit's development, manufacturing and on its goal to get more people programming.
For punters, it should mean a decent flow of kit, and even better community support for coding projects.
The Raspberry Pi will initially be sold in one, uncased configuration – the Model B – which has two USB slots, 256MB of Ram, an HDMI connector, a SD memory card slot and an Ethernet port. It costs $35 (£22).
This will be followed later in 2012 by the $25 (£16) Model A, which has a single USB port.
Both Element 14 and RS Components will begin taking orders for the Raspberry Pi today. ®
COMMENTS
@Pete 2
You seem to have spectacularly missed the point. This is a fully functional Linux machine, not an Arduino knock off. Its not just an embedded component as you seem to think. (although it could be used as such).
Interestingly, the Foundation itself hasn't done much of its own advertising - just occasional press release about stuff they have done - it's almost solely word of mouth to get to this stage, which makes me think there is a real demand for a device like this. As shown by the sales sites collapsing.
Re: Re: @Pete 2
"My TV runs linux, but it's still only a TV."
No...I think you'll find that it's a computer. Perhaps knobbled and DRM'd to hell, but a computer nonetheless.
"I have mini-ITX boards that sit on a bench and host Linux/Windows off a n/v RAM module - but they're not "computers" "
Err...yeah, they are. Windows is a general-purpose OS and (depending on the distro) so is GNU/Linux.
"The RPi is simply a component, in that it's uncased"
And the RaspPi peolpe have been hiding that fact under a rock have they? I disagrree on the "component". The CPU is a component. The USB controller is a component. The NIC is a component. Stick 'em all together (plus a few others) whatcha got? A computer!
"cannot work without additional, non-bundled, hardware"
Again - have they hid this fact from anyone. At all? If I unplug my keyboard, monitor etc from this desktop unit, does it cease to be a computer in your little world? How about the server which has or peripherals directly connected at all. Maybe I am hallucinating the fact it's perfectly functional (it came without media too).
"and is being sold to developers rather than to domestic users as an appliance in its own right."
Oh riiiiight. So just becaue geeks buy it, it's not a computer. FFS. A "computer" cover way more devices that an OEM beige box with bundled crap.
Stop digging that hole, it's in danger of collapse.
Re: it really is back to the early 80s
I getting a bit fed up with this vapourware bollocks. It is NOT vapourware. The first batch have been manufactured and are on their way to distribution RIGHT NOW.
So retract your AC head from your arse, and smell the fresh air. And stop being a c**t.
Re: Never trust a publicity junkie
It never ceases to amaze me how people spout off with righteous indignation while getting all their facts wrong.
The Pi went on sale today. Farnell sold out of them in about 15 minutes. RS for some reason didn't start selling. (I'm not sure what they think a "launch" is, but they royally cocked up."
The Pi has a processor, GPU, memory, storage, HDMI output, USB ports and a network port. It runs GNU/Linux. How does this not make it a computer?
@Pete 2
I'm still trying to get over the fact that Pete 2 seems to have a different definition of the word computer to the rest of the planet.
Is it worth continuing to try and get it through his undeniably thick head this is actually a computer? I think not.
