$25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe(raspberrypi.org)
raspberrypi.org
$25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe
http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/3215/
5 comments
> Compared to the model B: 70% of the price, 0 ethernet, 1 usb†,
> 256M RAM, same CPU, 1/3 of the power draw, a little thinner.
I'm a little surprised that an addition 256MB of RAM, another USB port, and an ethernet port can triple the power use though...
> I'm a little surprised that an addition 256MB of RAM, another USB port, and an ethernet port can triple the power use though...
That's because you're used to desktops, where Intel/AMD CPUs and screens take the vast majority of power.
But the RasPi has no screen, and the CPU is a small, slow ARM. It's not surprising that it takes so little power compared to peripherals.
Of note, there are low frequency (kilohz to low mhz range) 32-bit arms that can runs for months to years on an AA battery; They're starting to become the microcontroller of choice.
That's because you're used to desktops, where Intel/AMD CPUs and screens take the vast majority of power.
But the RasPi has no screen, and the CPU is a small, slow ARM. It's not surprising that it takes so little power compared to peripherals.
Of note, there are low frequency (kilohz to low mhz range) 32-bit arms that can runs for months to years on an AA battery; They're starting to become the microcontroller of choice.
Even less of a cut when you consider that, unlike the B, the A's USB port can apparently go into slave mode: http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=1... (from last year, things may have changed since then)
While I'm sure it's fine for some simple applications, I found the 512 model far more useful. They should have waited to release it 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 starts to thrash with a few heavy pages, while KDE and gnome desktops are just downright unable. The 512 model runs the heavyweight desktops just fine.
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 starts to thrash with a few heavy pages, while KDE and gnome desktops are just downright unable. The 512 model runs the heavyweight desktops just fine.
There are lots of applications that don't involve the Linux desktop or a web browser though.
There is also a Chinese version of model B happening: http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/3195
It's too bad people have had a hard time getting these, they look really cool and I love the project's idea. Really looking forward to getting one myself.
The Model B is widely available now, at least in the US. Check Newark's RPi product page [1], and click on "Check more stock". The next ship date is Feb. 11th. Not, that's not next day, but every time you buy one of these, the RPi foundation can make more of them, making future availability even better.
[1] http://www.newark.com/raspberry-pi/raspbrry-modb-512m/model-...
[1] http://www.newark.com/raspberry-pi/raspbrry-modb-512m/model-...
MCM has been shipping out RasPis next-day for a few months now: http://www.mcmelectronics.com/content/en-US/raspberry-pi
You can get them on Amazon these days, although you'll be hard pressed to find the $35 price.
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† Not as much of a cut as it sounds. The 2 on the model B can't supply more than 100ma, so unless you needed exactly two ports with low power on each, you needed a powered hub anyway.