Raspberry PI

[Tripitaka]

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

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

[Tripitaka]

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.

One word for you on that score: Ergonomics!

I for one would not be happy with my kids using a netbook for hours.

[Tripitaka]

OK, so I just looked on ebay and found an HDMI to VGA lead, a 15" TFT monitor, keyboard and mouse all on buy it now for a grand total of £18. With the Pi that's £40 total and all I need is a case. Oh look, this external floppy case in my cupboard is big enough, a little hacking and I'm done...

..as for kids being messy, pah! My kids have never spilt anything on my PC stuff. I have and my cat is a menace, but the kids, never. If it's an issue, mount the Pi on the wall and get a waterproof keyboard, job done.

[Tripitaka]

@ you know who.

Why the name calling? Manners cost nothing, if you can't argue your case and remain civil you just make yourself look stupid. A well reasoned argument requires no such childishness.

[Tripitaka]

what about shipping?

And for that price I can craigslist a real computer with better specs and pick it up locally.

just because your kids aren't clumsy dip****s doesn't mean others aren't, anyway.


and there will be at least one fat kid that tries to eat it when you tell him the name of the machine.

HUHUH I LIKE PIEEE!

That included shipping! Granted the TFT was a local pick up.

Why so little faith in children?

[Tripitaka]

Some of you may find this of interest (throws petrol on the fire):

http://elinux.org/RPi_Programming

[Tripitaka]

Not bad.   But that's still like 130 USD,

40.00 GBP = 63.4156 USD at current exchange rate

Because they're learning.

Err.... odd, I thought we never stopped learning.

Time for me to sod off for a few hours, I got stuff to paint.

[Tripitaka]

Trying to teach programming to kids is a waste of time. The geek kids don't need incompetent teachers to show them the ropes and the non geek kids don't give a damn and won't get anything out of it any way. The raspberry pi doesn't change anything, and kids aren't hurting for computers anyway, they're surrounded by them.

Yeah, well, maybe. TBH I think geek kids are better served by the XGameStation. UK industry has stated that it's more hardware understanding that is required rather than a lack of programmers. With cash in hand I think I would rather buy an XGS for myself too. I just don't need the Raspberry Pi. Having said that, as an XBMC unit, it would go nicely with my HD projector. But then what would I do with my hacked XBox?

Oh yeah, linky for the sake of completeness: http://www.xgamestation.com/

[Tripitaka]

What makes learning how to do a few tricks in BASIC or python more important than other things such as focusing on reading proficiency, mathematics and other important things that are of much more benefit to most people in society?

I agree wholeheartedly. Sadly the UK education system is becoming very workplace orientated. Too much so IMHO.

[Tripitaka]

Here in the US, we have a serious problem with kids having trouble reading or doing basic math after graduating high school (if they graduate at all). Every year a higher percentage of kids find themselves rejected from the colleges because they can't meet the entrance exams. They wind up in the community colleges and spend a year or more taking prerequisite classes which yield no credits before they can even start taking college level classes.

I'm not surprised by this. Another NWO control system, that's why you had the right to bear arms in the first place. Not that I would encourage US citizens to rebel against the psychos running the place but...

In the UK kids are just being taught their future assigned slave positions, no need to be a reasoning human being just as long as you can do a job. It's all so f 'ed up.

[Tripitaka]

The entire Raspberry Pi project was conceived because the UK education system is *not* workplace orientated.

The industry wants developers while schools are teaching them about Powerpoint and Word.  Even Microsoft don't want them to do that!

That's a fair point and I agree but to clarify, that was not what I was referring to regarding the UK education system.

My comment was on the general approach of the UK education system based on the fact that my own kids (twins, now 13) are taking their options. It's not a lesson for lesson based approach, they have to pick paths, basically career paths. The qualifications a lot of kids are working towards now in the UK are NVQ, National Vocational Qualifications. I think it's too much direction at too young an age, how many people know what they want to do for a career at 13?

[Tripitaka]

Just managed to pre-order a Pi from Farnells.

I really don't understand all the negativity in this thread to something that can only be seen in a positive light, its the first bit of technology that I've been eagerly awaiting for a long time.

Considering that we all have mice, keyboards and monitors anyway, at the price of less than the average console game I think they are hard to resist. If someone buys and tries, then decides it's not for them the demand will mean they recoup most of the cash anyway. I hope you have lots of fun with it.

[Tripitaka]

Well, once you get hold of your Pi you may be after one of these:

http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/raspberry-pi-gets-a-case-you-can-download-and-3d-print-2012035/

A nice case IMHO.

I just took a look at the Shapeways site too. Looks like a few cases are available.

http://www.shapeways.com/search?dos=1&shapewaysSearch=raspberry+pi

[Tripitaka]

I'm holding out for the $25 model, so I'm already prepared to wait until year's end.
I'm not sure just what I'll do with it once I have it.
Space probe?  Mini arcade cab?  Love tester?  Who knows?!

That's pretty much my thinking too. At the price of a single video game it's worth getting just to have a play with it.

[Tripitaka]

...and suddenly it isn't $35 anymore, and with 8GB storage, power supply and cables on top, it's crawling up in Efika MX price range (but not in performance, features and usability). Many a little makes a mickle...

But I have spare cables, external drives etc..  Your point is fair however.
TBH I like the Efika MX too. Maybe Genesi should have sold the MX Mobo as a bare mobo.