From $100 MIT handcrank laptops to a $25 Raspberry Pi

http://www.stradagest.com/2012/01/02/look-how-far-tech-has-come-from-100-mit-handcrank-laptops-to-25-raspberry-pi/

by fbea • 15 years ago

14 8 15 years ago

MrFoof• 15 years ago

I think comparing the Raspberry Pi to the original OLPC concepts is rather misguided. The OLPC is a computer that can be used immediately. It's turnkey. It has a display, and input devices, and comes in a case.

The Raspberry Pi reminds me more of the Heathkits my father used to buy, but we're talking more of the radio kits as opposed to the 25" television sets. It's a computer, yes, but it's not the entire puzzle -- it's just a piece. If you build a radio, you want more than just sound -- you want something to easily change the frequency, more usable controls, a case, and a power supply that's a bit more manageable. The OLPC gives you all of that as part of the kit (and in the case of the OLPC, preassembled), whereas with the Raspberry Pi you've got to piece together the rest of the system. There's nothing wrong with that, but it does limit its accessibility if you're trying to get kids to program. Sure, there's something to be learned buy gathering up all the components, but it's limited, as it's not much more than plugging in some cables with standardized connectors.

The Pi may have more horsepower, but it's basically just an engine. Don't get me wrong, it's a great idea, but there's quite a bit more involved so someone can really explore what the hardware is capable of when compared to the OLPC.

wisty• 15 years ago

It might be a better platform to get kids to program. It's probably easy to get it connected to a big TV, and it's cheap enough to mess around with.

But you're right to say that the price comparison is pretty meaningless.

richardburton• 15 years ago

Apples and oranges for-sure. However the bigger trend here is accessible, speedy computing for all. That is really exciting.

shazow• 15 years ago

Perhaps a better competing use for a $25 Raspberry Pi is Apple's Airport Express ($99 retail).

I would love to make every one of my USB peripherals be decoupled from my computer. Printer, scanner, external hard drive, etc.

All you'd need to do is a $10 USB Wifi dongle, slap it into an enclosure, and resell it for $75 as a more customizable Airport Express. Bonus points if it prints from and scans into my Dropbox or Google Docs.

tmcw• 15 years ago

Raspberry Pi is the bees knees because it's near-hypeless. They get it, they know that they can make it. There are no silly 3D illustrations of it doing magical things, and they refused pre-orders because they had enough financing to make them. And, heck, they have lots of people with real uses for the thing who will order it.

sethbuzz2• 15 years ago

OLPC == hype, true. But it's not like OLPC took pre orders either.

rorrr• 15 years ago

OLPC has a display, a battery, and (AFAIR) a radio to communicate with other OLPCs in the area.

sethbuzz2• 15 years ago

OLPC Tried to make a $100 /computer/ (laptop, and got pretty close (~$185). And Raspberry is making a $25 development board. I applaud Raspberry Pi and their intentions. But putting all of the necessary devices to make this also a /computer/ will probably cost at least $100.

Without contrasting $25 and $100 pricepoints, what else is the author trying to say?

From $100 MIT handcrank laptops to a $25 Raspberry Pi

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