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Check out this $35 PC!?!?!
Howard_Casto:
--- Quote from: kahlid74 on March 23, 2012, 09:49:31 am ---It's entirely possible that developer may not realize that or he may want as close to the source as possible whereby compiling on the Virtual Pi gives him the idea of 100% compatibility.
--- End quote ---
Well no, that's still kind of crazy. Let's say I'm writing an app for my vizo tv... I don't compile it on my tv, because it's a cruddy tv, I compile it on a pc poweful enough to compile.
Justin Z:
So you couldn't just start the compile as you're heading to bed and let it run overnight?
Grasshopper:
I've been disappointed by the recent price hike, but overall I'm still pretty excited about this product. It has the potential to be the type of open platform that I'd hoped Android based devices would be when they first appeared a few years ago. Unfortunately, so far Android has been a huge disappointment for me. Not the actual interface I hasten to add (which is just as slick as iOS IMHO) but the way in which the OS is being delivered to consumers. Whether by accident or design, Google and the Android device manufacturers have so far managed to neutralise most the the benefits that are supposed to come from using open source software. Android just isn't open enough for my taste. Most of the manufacturers seem to be riding roughshod over the spirit, and in some cases, the actual letter of the GPL, and getting away with it. There is a disturbing tendency for them to release source code either very late when the version of Android is already obsolete, or not at all.
There is also a lot of tivoisation going on, which is even more obnoxious. Admittedly, it's incredibly easy to root/jailbreak most Android devices, but the point is you shouldn't have to. I'm tired of having to fight manufacturers to gain full control of devices that I've spent my hard earned cash on. And even when the device has been rooted you face the potential problem of unannounced/undocumented changes to the hardware which can cause the device to be bricked if you flash the wrong firmware version on to it.
--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on March 18, 2012, 06:47:15 pm ---
I think people are getting a little defensive over this device. When it was first announced I was super excited, but that was several years ago. Now you can buy a tablet with the exact same specs minus the i/o pins (which admittedly are cool) and with the added benefit of having a nice touchscreen. The price of tablets are coming down dramatically as well. You can get one with similar specs for under 100 bucks now.
--- End quote ---
If you sought out the very cheapest no name brand, shipped directly from China, tablet you could find, and factor in the cost of the battery and touchscreen then you *might* end up with a product that's slightly better value for money than the Raspberry Pi, but it would be a stretch. However, to focus solely on price is to miss the point. What really makes the Raspberry Pi unique is the philosophy that underpins it. It's been deliberately designed to be easily and safely hackable. Because the entire OS is stored on a standard removable SD card it will be impossible to brick. If something goes wrong then you'll just need to copy a new disk image onto the card and you'll be good to go.
If it takes off in schools, which was the original intention, then it has the potential to be a game changer. And god knows we need a game change. There has been a disturbing tendency in recent years for manufacturers to attempt to lock down their computing devices, and it's done mostly for self-serving anti-competitive reasons. If Microsoft gets its way, then even desktop PCs will one day only be able to run digitally signed operating systems chosen by the manufacturer (i.e. Windows).
SavannahLion:
--- Quote from: Grasshopper on March 24, 2012, 11:06:13 am ---If it takes off in schools, which was the original intention, then it has the potential to be a game changer. And god knows we need a game change. There has been a disturbing tendency in recent years for manufacturers to attempt to lock down their computing devices, and it's done mostly for self-serving anti-competitive reasons. If Microsoft gets its way, then even desktop PCs will one day only be able to run digitally signed operating systems chosen by the manufacturer (i.e. Windows).
--- End quote ---
Wasn't that the intent of OLPC?
Howard_Casto:
Sounds like rampant speculation Grasshopper. I heard the same end of the world speech in regards to Microsoft all the way in 1998.... needless to say you can still install any OS you want on a computer, but why would you want to? For desktop use windows is the best or at the very least the most widely supported.
I agree about android, but tablet manufacturers are in a tight space. You've got china, who actually manufactuers these things, ready to churn out a knock-off the next day. The only thing preventing them from doing that is the source code. It's one of the reasons linux never really caught on at the consumer level actually.... why invest time and money adding stuff to the OS when your competator has full access to your source and they can ripoff your features and sell their product at a lower price?
But all that stuff is debatable, your point is a little off though. At the beginning you say that it isn't about the money and then close by saying that it is about the school programs. Trust me, if it's about the school programs then it IS about the money. The reason I brought up tablets as an example is because the pi SEEMS cheaper but it really isn't. Now maybe for a robotics class it might be useful but for everything else, not entirely practical.
Ok you've got your 35 dollar ...err scratch that 65 dollar PI
It's going to need:
case = 5.00
Keyboard = 10.00
Mouse = 8.00
SD card = 20.00
Monitor = 200.00
For a grand total of around 308 bucks... probably more if you factor in shipping costs and the like.
Now you might say "But isn't a traditional pc going to need these things as well?" Yes, that's certainly true. The problem is at 300 bucks we are in the ball park of the price of a cheap pc bundle, which would include all of those accessories. Factor that in with the fact that schools can generally arrange a big discount with pc manufacturers and they can buy a full-fledged pc, which has greater functionality for the same price. Now it won't be a top of the line pc like we are used to, but it would certainly be better than the Pi's specs.
Now for rich shcools, that have the extra resources I can see this thing being used, but it's intended purpose of putting pcs in the hands of impoverished children isn't going to happen. They aren't going to be able to justify what they get for the money.
As SL said, the OLPC is a MUCH BETTER solution to that. The reason it's obvious... it's a full-fledged pc with all the needed accessories. Unfortunately even it's price is around 220 bucks, which is too expensive for what you get.
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