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First Photos and Video of Raspberry Pi Model A

coop0030 writes "The first photos and videos of the Model A production samples are now available. The Raspberry Pi Model A is the newest low-cost computer from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Compared to the popular Model B, the Model A forgoes the Ethernet Controller, has 256MB of RAM, and has a single USB port. A benefit of the missing Ethernet controller is that power consumption is reduced. This allowed them to reach their goals of a low-cost $25 computer. The release date is for sometime early in 2013."

13 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why? by SomePgmr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would too. But the goal was always for a $25 computer that's a useful, low cost learning tool. You can't fault them for actually making that happen.

  2. 256 is not enough by slacka · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They should have waited until they could get the cost down with 512MB of RAM. Having used both the 256 and 512 Model B, I found that no amount of tweaking could make the 256 model run a web browser acceptably on a Linux desktop. Modern Linux desktops and browsers have gotten too bloated. LXDE is painfully slow, while KDE and gnome desktops are just downright unable. The 512 model has no such issue.

    1. Re:256 is not enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Low-cost computer, not general-purpose desktop-replacement.

    2. Re:256 is not enough by houghi · · Score: 4, Informative
      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  3. Re:Ummmmm... by thegarbz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Interesting. I saw a post just like yours when the Raspberry Pi was first announced. End result was demand was so high it was quite difficult to get. We'll see how it pans out this time.

  4. Natural Environment by dohzer · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can we please get some photos of the Raspberry Pi in its natural environment; sitting unused, covered in dust on some hipster-geek's shelf?

  5. Beowulfcluster joke? by houghi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Not so much a joke as a reality as is shown right here

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  6. Re:Ummmmm... by virb67 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And why would anyone choose this model over B, with twice the ram, Ethernet, and a second USB port for a measly 10$ savings?

  7. Re:goal was always for a $25 computer by maxwell+demon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Actually I'd like a model with Ethernet port and enough RAM but without graphics (that should save a lot of power, too).

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  8. Re:Ummmmm... by M1FCJ · · Score: 4, Informative

    Lower power requirements. A lot of embedded device people don't care about the RAM and the ethernet. Who'd like to drag a network cable in their little robot?

  9. Re:ARMv6 by Joce640k · · Score: 4, Insightful

    To be fair, you can get Arduino clones for a lot less than that...

    You can even make one yourself. Solder a $3 chip to a piece of perfboard and write "Arduino" on it. It'll work just the same.

    The official $30 Arduino is for people who want their voltage regulators, USB interface, etc. all on a single board. Apparently that's a lot of people...

    --
    No sig today...
  10. Re:Ummmmm... by dabadab · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And why would anyone choose this model over B, with twice the ram, Ethernet, and a second USB port for a measly 10$ savings?

    Because they:
    1. Don't care much about that difference
    and
    2. Buy lots of them in which case it's a saving of not 10$ but 30% - and that's a lot.

    --
    Real life is overrated.
  11. Re:I don't know about anyone else by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I bought one and I'm sick and fucking tired of hearing about it. I don't want to hear one more fucking thing until ICS or later is running on it, personally, since that was the news that got me to buy one, and then they never released it, and Liz never adequately explained why.

    Raspberry Pi serves as a reminder to the community as to why we still need electronics companies. Apparently, we are not yet capable of producing and delivering a product this complex without doing it badly, even with all the support you could ever hope for from the vendor.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"