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Raspberry Pi Zero, the cheapest computer in the world
Today has been revealed Raspberry Pi Zero, the $5 PC. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is trying for many years to bring the cheapest computer possible to kids who would like to learn but who cannot afford a computer.
That dream came true today, when they launched a low cost computer with a price of only $5 or £4 in the U.K.
The computer comes with a core chip of 1 Ghz and 512MB of LPDDR2 SDRAM. It also incorporates a card slot for a micro-SD memory card on which it can run the operating system, a mini HDMI socket for video output 1080p60 and 2 micro USB ports for power and data.
Even if there is no on-board Wi-Fi or Ethernet, the micro USB ports can be used to connect it to a Wi-Fi dongle.
The previous versions of Pi’s cheapest computer attempts cost $30 and $20 – the Model A++. But they are not alone in the fight for producing the cheapest computer ever. A rival company – Orange Pi – launched their version earlier this fall, at the price of $15. So now there is the question if anyone could go lower than the $5 Pi Zero version.
The costs of production for the Pi Zero could be kept so low by only adding components that were absolutely needed. The board is tiny, measuring just 65 x 30 x 5 mm, which has also saved some production costs. More than that, there is also the fact that Pi Foundation has already produced millions of boards. Finally, let’s not forget that Pi is a non-for-profit Foundation so the retail price of only $5 probably represents only the cost of fabrication.
The Pi Foundation has recently merged with Code Club, and after school coding organization for kids. Their mission is to set up a Code Club in every corner of the world, in every community. Even if it might sound unrealistic, many interesting things could be achieved with a $5 computer so their goal is now one step forward to fulfilling.
The spokesman of Pi Foundation is confident that their Pi Zero, the $5 PC could bring benefits even in the emerging economies from the poorest countries. He claims that with the help of Pi Zero anyone could upgrade their old TV into a computer.
If this is not a miracle of modern technology, than nothing is.
Image source: www.raspberrypi.org
