Raspberry PI

[tone007]

I've tried, but I really can't see the appeal of this thing.

[tone007]

25-35 dollar 700Mhz 256Mb ARM computer the size of a credit card able to be run off 4AA batteries and able to play back 1080P?

I see nothing BUT potential.

Ho hum. http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=Motorola+Atrix+(TM)+2+(Refurbished)&q_sku=sku5580225#fbid=bvU-6q8AWxi

[tone007]

You left off the .01 final cost of the phone but regardless, "Ho hum," because there are plenty of people walking around with devices more powerful than this in their pockets.

Cheap doesn't make it awesome.

edit: the more I think about it, the more it reminds me of a $99 Android tablet I had, minus the screen, exact specs.  What's a touchscreen go for, about $60-$70?

Sounds like that tablet wasn't a bad deal either.

[tone007]

Raspberry PI is designed to teach them to program.  

Why program this thing when there are real computers running Linux to program on?

[tone007]

Take a class of 30 kids.......  yes, cost.

Lets see.

You'll probably need a keyboard, monitor and mouse, and maybe even a case.  I can't see the whole setup being too much less than $200.  Buy the kids netbooks and be done with it.

How exactly isn't this a "real" computer? Not all children have their own personal computers. Access to a personal computer only gets you so far when your use of it is restricted in various ways, especially when it comes to programming.

It's about as real as the 8088s and 286s I was learning QBasic programming on back in high school while the rest of the world had moved on to Pentiums and more powerful programming languages.  Might as well give them what the real world is using.

[tone007]

Depending on the size of the kid, the ergonomics could be perfect!

[tone007]

A TV monitor can be had new for ~$30 and a basic keyboard goes for what, $4?

"Here kid, don't mind the blurry letters."  Love it.

I think this thing's called the Pi because its a 3.14/10

Ha!

[tone007]

All this DEC stuff is making me want to power up my MicroVAX and Alphaserver...

[tone007]

Lucky bastard!

Just realized, I've got a third DEC machine (Rainbow 100+ tower, very complete) buried around here somewhere, and I didnt pay a cent for any of the DECs (all separate, "free for the taking" Craigslist posts.)  I guess I am either lucky or in the right area for old DEC stuff.