The Raspberry Pi Is Now On Sale

[Zaune]

They've taken their website down pre-emptively, so information is currently a bit scarce. But for those not in the know, the Raspberry Pi is a tiny but completely functional ARM-based computer that's roughly the size of a credit card or a large matchbox, intended as an educational machine for the teaching of computer programming in secondary schools. Detailed specifications can be found at this contractor's site, assuming their server hasn't overloaded by the time you read this (the other one already has), and here's an outline drawing that should be to scale.



Get 'em while they're hot!

[Eleas]

Awesome.

[dragon]

nice wish they had that stuff growing up then maybe I wouldn't be so clueless when it comes to programming

[Zaune]

nice wish they had that stuff growing up then maybe I wouldn't be so clueless when it comes to programming

It's never too late to learn, and there's plenty of resources out there. I'm putting twenty quid down on an R-Pi to teach myelf Python with, using this free tutorial.

[dragon]

nice wish they had that stuff growing up then maybe I wouldn't be so clueless when it comes to programming

It's never too late to learn, and there's plenty of resources out there. I'm putting twenty quid down on an R-Pi to teach myelf Python with, using this free tutorial.

Maybe but ever since my injuries I seem to have hard time memorizing stuff, and programming has a fair amount. 2 years ago I did a immersion course for German which is 8 hours a day 5 days a week for 10 weeks and I was the only that spoke english. Had to take the course twice and still barely was able to pass the 2nd level out of 5 levels test the goverment gives out. Reading writing were fine but speaking blegh. And I've already forgotten everything.

[Dave]

nice wish they had that stuff growing up then maybe I wouldn't be so clueless when it comes to programming

It's never too late to learn, and there's plenty of resources out there. I'm putting twenty quid down on an R-Pi to teach myelf Python with, using this free tutorial.

...Do you not have your own computer?

I've been following this as the hype around it went out of control, but I'm just not seeing the value. Yeah, it's a computer with ethernet for $35, but how many people actually need a computer that hooks up to their TV? Is most text going to be readable on the screen?

If you just wanted a network-attached bitchbox, there are pogoplugs on amazon for $25. (just got one, plan on using it to seed legal torrents or something, still working on setting up firewall rules on the router so I don't blow past Comcast's data cap)

The only thing I can really see it for is robotics/an arduino replacement.

There were people going "I'll take 6!" and I just could not see even most computer nerds finding uses for 6 of the things.

[Executor32]

It has an HDMI port, you know. My monitor has an HDMI port on it, and even if it didn't I've got three or four HDMI-to-DVI adapters lying round that came with my last couple of video cards.

[Dave]

It has an HDMI port, you know. My monitor has an HDMI port on it, and even if it didn't I've got three or four HDMI-to-DVI adapters lying round that came with my last couple of video cards.

I saw that, but I'm not really familiar with HDMI. Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass and should just shut up.

[Executor32]

Three seconds, that's all it takes.

It's DVI video coupled with 7.1-channel digital audio and with a smaller connector.

[Zaune]

...Do you not have your own computer?

I've been following this as the hype around it went out of control, but I'm just not seeing the value. Yeah, it's a computer with ethernet for $35, but how many people actually need a computer that hooks up to their TV? Is most text going to be readable on the screen?

If you just wanted a network-attached bitchbox, there are pogoplugs on amazon for $25. (just got one, plan on using it to seed legal torrents or something, still working on setting up firewall rules on the router so I don't blow past Comcast's data cap)

The only thing I can really see it for is robotics/an arduino replacement.

There were people going "I'll take 6!" and I just could not see even most computer nerds finding uses for 6 of the things.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't really want to mess around with writing and testing software on the machine I use for everything else, lest my reach exceed my grasp and I do something that requires a tedious and inconvenient OS reinstall. Besides, working with an upper limit of 256MB of RAM and a CPU roughly equivalent to a 300MHz Pentium II seems like a good way to train myself into good habits for resource-efficient coding.

[Eleas]

seems like a good way to train myself into good habits for resource-efficient coding.

It is. When I code Interactive Fiction, given the choice between compiling to z5 (256K maximum file size), z8 (512K max) and Glulx (4 GB), I inevitably try to distill it down to z5, because the leaner code pays dividends in clarity and usefulness. Power to spare is a liability if it's squandered to support a turgid, exception-ridden mess.

[Shadow6]

I wonder if these would be any good for computer vision in robotics? I've been doing a bit of hobbyist stuff with a netbook, but it's still too heavy and bulky for my liking.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't really want to mess around with writing and testing software on the machine I use for everything else, lest my reach exceed my grasp and I do something that requires a tedious and inconvenient OS reinstall. Besides, working with an upper limit of 256MB of RAM and a CPU roughly equivalent to a 300MHz Pentium II seems like a good way to train myself into good habits for resource-efficient coding.

If all you are doing is learning Python using the standard library, it will be almost impossible to break anything. I also don't think anything you write will come close to pushing the limits of the machine and Python does a lot of the work for you (automatic garbage collection, for instance) and hence might not be the best language to learn best practices.

If you're really concerned about messing up your system or having too many system resources for your own good, why not just use a virtual machine?

[Sarevok]

...Do you not have your own computer?

I've been following this as the hype around it went out of control, but I'm just not seeing the value. Yeah, it's a computer with ethernet for $35, but how many people actually need a computer that hooks up to their TV? Is most text going to be readable on the screen?

If you just wanted a network-attached bitchbox, there are pogoplugs on amazon for $25. (just got one, plan on using it to seed legal torrents or something, still working on setting up firewall rules on the router so I don't blow past Comcast's data cap)

The only thing I can really see it for is robotics/an arduino replacement.

There were people going "I'll take 6!" and I just could not see even most computer nerds finding uses for 6 of the things.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't really want to mess around with writing and testing software on the machine I use for everything else, lest my reach exceed my grasp and I do something that requires a tedious and inconvenient OS reinstall. Besides, working with an upper limit of 256MB of RAM and a CPU roughly equivalent to a 300MHz Pentium II seems like a good way to train myself into good habits for resource-efficient coding.

1.No offense Zaune but the only way YOU are going to harm your computer is by installing malware.

2. You want to learn programming first not think about hardware or optimization.