Raspberry Pi -- the £22 computer that looks like a circuit board -- is very nearly ready to go back on sale.
It's passed EMC testing without needing any tweaks, the Raspberry Pi Foundation announced on its blog. The mini PC had been on lockdown in Panasonic's facility (which I imagine resembles a Bond villain's lair) in South Wales for testing all week, but now that's done there are only a couple of hurdles before it'll be back on sale. And from the sounds of things, these hurdles are considerably lower than the previous ones.
The Raspberry Pi still has to be looked over by RS Components, who makes the device, and element14/Premier Farnell, but, in the words of the blog post, "that's a piece of cake compared to what we've been doing all week." As well as gaining its CE credentials, the tiny computer also complies with FCC regulations for the USA, as well as the Australian and Canadian equivalents, so things should back in full swing very shortly.
Since being announced at the end of February, the device has attracted a huge amount of interest. It's aimed at schools looking to get kids interested in programming, but I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a huge following among people just interested in seeing what they can do with it. The initial batch sold out in just two hours, but subsequent shipments were delayed due to the wrong type of networking jack being soldered onto the credit card-sized computer. A little over a week ago it joined the queue at the CE testing centre.
The Pi's creators originally thought it would be sold as non-CE certified, as it's not a finished end product, but it's gone along with the decision to certify it anyway.
There's no word on when we'll see the little guy go on sale, but here's hoping it's days rather than weeks.
Will you be taking a bite of the Raspberry Pi? And what will you use it for? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
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anonymous 8 April, 2012 15:23
CE stamp is a front to tax technology and make individuals rich! The PI is upfront and wants people to benefit. They arn't been greedy and want to put progression back on the train tracks... This can potentially change the world for good. creating ecosystems and self sufficiency but can also put technology in the hands of people who want to do wrong... This has to happen we just need to be aware of the pros and cons. This is a product which should in theory better men and woman kind...
anonymous 8 April, 2012 16:07
When there's plentiful supply I'll buy at least 10 of the networked model for monitoring e-mail accounts and news websites. A 4-HDMI input TV canbe had for about 200 quid these days, and I plan on 80 Mbps d/l using FTTC broadband to feed my office.
anonymous 8 April, 2012 21:29
They said they could not have the PI made in the UK for the current retail price as there would be no profit in it at all, but as it costs so little would anyone really be bothered if they raised the price by around £5 say to have it made here? I think not, c'mon guys pull out of China and have it made in your own backyard and help your fellow countryman with very much needed jobs.