Raspberry Pi's latest computer so cheap it comes free with magazine (or $5)

[muriel_volestrangler]

The latest version of British computer Raspberry Pi has become the first computer to be given away free with a magazine.

The Pi Zero is a fully fledged computer which measures just 6.5cm by 3cm. Made in Wales, it sells for just £4 in the UK and $5 in the US. Raspberry Pi is also giving the device away for free with the purchase of its £5.99 monthly magazine, MagPi.

Like all computers made by Raspberry Pi, the machine runs Raspbian, a version of the Linux operating system built for the devices. It ships with a 1GHz processor and 512Mb of memory (the same amount that was included in the iPad 2 in 2011, and equivalent to a desktop computer in the early 2000s), and can run apps built for the operating system, such as coding tool Scratch and the game Minecraft.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/26/raspberry-pi-zero-computer-cheap-free-magazine-magpi

More: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-11/26/raspberry-pi-zero-launch

[Recursion]

1. I love love love the Raspberry Pi

Great little device.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I hadn't thought about coding for the Pi, but really, if there's going to be a computer

for most of the underdeveloped world, it's going to be the Pi or another like it. Making Pi-compatible freeware might be the single easiest way to get your code in the hands of the most people over time.

[Recursion]

3. The NGO I volunteer for uses them to teach coding to slum kids

You can actually hook them up via a USB serial connection to an Android device (which at this point most of the kids have) to function as a terminal, if needs be. We're getting the kids to learn Logo and Forth on them right now.

I'm working on a very bare-bones OS kernel and userland they can hack around with; I'll put the code up if anybody is interested in helping out.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

6. They are pretty cheap resources for schools

That is how my husband got interested in them. He is a tech teacher.

[Recursion]

7. Plus they are ARM which is like the Platonic ideal of chip design

We're just edging into teaching the kids assembly now, and the fact that it's for an ARM is such a plus. ARM was made by and for hackers, and I really, really look forward to what these kids are going to come up with.

[hobbit709]

4. I got a little stick computer a few years back. Was $35 at the time.

Has built-in HDMI out for HD quality video, built-in wifi, 1.2 GHz dual core cpu, 1 Gb RAM, micro-SD card slot(holds up to 32 Gb card), 2 USB ports. Runs on 5 volts from an external power source. Not much bigger than a flash drive.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

5. My husband has a few Raspberry Pis

He's made a few cool projects with them. He used one to set up a website for remotely controlling this little car he made. Website even worked in Safari.

[stillwaiting]

8. Sounds like we might need a Kingsman for this one. nt