$25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe • Hacker News Board

Re: $25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe

#11

Post by slacka » Mon, Feb 04, 2013, 6:33 PM UTC

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.

Re: $25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe

#12

Post by beagle3 » Mon, Feb 04, 2013, 6:36 PM UTC

koralatov wrote: post #6

jws wrote: post #2

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. ␄ † 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.

> 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 didn't realise that the Model A's power-use was a third of the Model B. While that might not make a huge difference for most people, it'll be a definite benefit to those using them in `always on' situations where connectivity isn't so important. I'm a little surprised that an addition 256M…

> 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.

Re: $25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe

#13

Post by Joeboy » Mon, Feb 04, 2013, 6:55 PM UTC

slacka wrote: post #11

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 w…

There are lots of applications that don't involve the Linux desktop or a web browser though.

Re: $25 Raspberry Pi Model A now for sale in Europe

#14

Post by johansch » Mon, Feb 04, 2013, 8:09 PM UTC

IgorPartola wrote: post #5

There is also a Chinese version of model B happening: http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/3195

"we have granted Egoman Technology Corp a licence to produce and distribute Pis in China and Taiwan".

If this truly is a charity, why not go the Arduino route and allow anyone to use the design (but not the trademark)?