Raspberry Pi Unveils $5 Computer for Kids
Raspberry Pi has unveiled its latest computer for teaching kids how to code, and one of the best things about it is its $5 (£3.30) price tag.
On Thursday, the British pocket computer maker introduced the Raspberry Pi Zero, which is designed for children who want to learn coding. The $5 (£3.30) pocket computer, which measures 65 mm x 30 m x 5 mm, runs on a 1 GHz ARM chip with 512 MB of RAM, a Mini-HDMI socket, Micro-USB ports, and a microSD card slot, according to CNET.
Raspberry Pi is giving away its latest basic computer to all 11-year-old kids in the United Kingdom for free. The move is an act of support for the country's mandatory curriculum, which now includes coding, the report details.
Eben Upton, Raspberry Pi's chief executive, unveiled the Pi Zero using a video. He recalled how expensive computers were when he was younger, and explained that the company aims to help make these devices more accessible to the children of 2015, the report details.
"We've gone from the cost of four lattes to one latte. We're not going to go below the cost of one latte," CNET quotes Upton's statement. "We really hope this is going to get those last few people in the door and involved in computer programming."
In an interview with TechCrunch, Upton said the Pi Zero will come in handy for people interested in robotics or other IoT projects because of its size and low consumption of power. However, the tiny computer is not to be underestimated because it can be used to drive a screen and keyboard for debugging, the report relays.
The pocket computer manufacturer is expecting the supply of Pi Zero to run out quickly, but the firm has a surprise promo for their customers. Every December issue of Raspberry Pi's magazine MagPi comes with the computer as a free gift. So, customers are urged to hurry to the nearest news outlet and grab a copy of the magazine.
