Jump to content

Raspberry Pi: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Reception: + Ian Livingstone suggestion of BBC support
→‎Software: + App Store-type site will be created
Line 135: Line 135:


==Software==
==Software==
On February 19, 2012 the Raspberry Pi Foundation released its first proof of concept SD Card image that can be loaded onto an SD Card to produce a preliminary operating system. The image is based upon [[Debian]] 6.0 (Squeeze), with the [[LXDE]] desktop and the [[Midori browser]], plus various programming tools. The image can also run on [[QEMU]] allowing the Raspberry Pi to be emulated on various other platforms.<ref>[http://www.linuxnewshere.com/index.php/raspberry-pi-releases-1st-sd-card-image-debian linuxnews showing the first release of Debian Squeeze for Raspberry running on QEMU]</ref> The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a version of Fedora,<ref>[http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/645 Raspberry foundation announcing "first root filesystem available for download"]</ref> developed at [[Seneca College]] in Canada,<ref name="cbc">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/02/23/technology-raspberry-pi-cheap-computer.html | title=$35 computer 'Raspberry Pi' readies for launch | work=[[CBC.ca]] | date=February 24, 2012 | accessdate=February 28, 2012 | author=Chung, Emily}}</ref> later.
On February 19, 2012 the Raspberry Pi Foundation released its first proof of concept SD Card image that can be loaded onto an SD Card to produce a preliminary operating system. The image is based upon [[Debian]] 6.0 (Squeeze), with the [[LXDE]] desktop and the [[Midori browser]], plus various programming tools. The image can also run on [[QEMU]] allowing the Raspberry Pi to be emulated on various other platforms.<ref>[http://www.linuxnewshere.com/index.php/raspberry-pi-releases-1st-sd-card-image-debian linuxnews showing the first release of Debian Squeeze for Raspberry running on QEMU]</ref>
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a version of Fedora,<ref>[http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/645 Raspberry foundation announcing "first root filesystem available for download"]</ref> developed at [[Seneca College]] in Canada,<ref name="cbc">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/02/23/technology-raspberry-pi-cheap-computer.html | title=$35 computer 'Raspberry Pi' readies for launch | work=[[CBC.ca]] | date=February 24, 2012 | accessdate=February 28, 2012 | author=Chung, Emily}}</ref> later. The ''Foundation'' intends to create an [[App Store]]<!-- this link is currently a dab page, which is intentional as no specific type of app store is referred to in the news piece --> website for people to exchange programs.<ref name="bbc classroom coders">


==Reception==
==Reception==

Revision as of 14:14, 29 February 2012

Raspberry Pi
Beta board
DeveloperRaspberry Pi Foundation
TypeSingle-board computer
Release date29 February 2012[1]
Introductory priceUSD $25 and $35
(GBP ~£16 and ~£22)
Operating systemLinux (Debian GNU/Linux, Fedora, and Arch Linux)[2]
CPUARM1176JZF-S 700 MHz[3]
Memory256 Megabytes
StorageSD Card Slot
(SD or SDHC card)
GraphicsBroadcom VideoCore IV[3]
Power3.5 W (model B)
Websitewww.raspberrypi.org

The Raspberry Pi (or RasPi)[4] is a single-board computer developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The foundation has released two versions, priced at USD $25 and $35 (GBP ~£16 and ~£22). The $35 model was released first on 29 Febuary 2012[5]. The Raspberry Pi is intended to stimulate the teaching of basic computer science in schools.[6][7][8][9][10]

The design is based around a Broadcom BCM2835 SoC,[3] which includes an ARM1176JZF-S 700 MHz processor, VideoCore IV GPU, and 256 Megabytes of RAM. The design does not include a built-in hard disk or solid-state drive, instead relying on an SD card for booting and long-term storage.[11]

This board is intended to run Linux kernel based operating systems.[2] It supports the Python programming language,[12][13], BBC BASIC,[14] C[12] and Perl.[12]

History

An early Alpha board in operation. Its layout is different from the Beta and Production boards.

In 2006, early concepts of the Raspberry Pi were based on the Atmel ATmega644 microcontroller. Its schematics and PCB layout are available for public download.[15] Foundation trustee Eben Upton assembled a group of teachers, academics and computer enthusiasts to devise a computer to inspire children.[16] The first ARM prototype version of the computer was mounted in a package the same size as a USB memory stick.[17] It had a USB port on one end and a HDMI port on the other.

Foundation

Development of the device is undertaken by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a charitable organization registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.[18] The board of trustees was assembled by 2008[4] and the Raspberry Pi Foundation was founded as a registered charity in May 2009 in Caldecote, South Cambridgeshire, UK.[18] The Foundation is supported by the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory and Broadcom.[19] Its aim is to "promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing."[20]

Trustees of the Foundation are David Braben, Jack Lang, Pete Lomas, Rob Mullins, Alan Mycroft and Eben Upton.[4][18]

Pre-launch

In August 2011, fifty Alpha boards were manufactured. These boards were functionally identical to the planned model B,[21] only larger to accommodate debug headers. Demos of the board showed it running the LXDE desktop on Debian, Quake 3 at 1080p,[22] and Full HD MPEG-4 video over HDMI.[23] In October 2011, a development version of RISC OS 5 was being worked on[24] and demonstrated in public.[25][26]

In December 2011, twenty-five model B Beta boards were assembled and tested[27] from one hundred unpopulated PCBs.[28] The component layout of the Beta boards is the same as production boards. A single PCB routing error was discovered in the board design and fixed for the first production run.[29] The Beta boards were demonstrated booting Linux, playing a 1080p movie trailer and the Rightware Samurai OpenGL ES benchmark.[30]

During the first week of 2012, the first 10 boards were put up for auction on eBay.[31][32] One was bought anonymously and donated to the museum at The Centre for Computing History in Suffolk, England.[33][34]The ten boards (with a total retail price of £220) together raised over £16,000,[35] with the last to be auctioned, serial number #01, raising £3,500.[36] In advance of the perceived launch at the end of February 2012, the Foundation's servers struggled to cope with the load placed by watchers repeatedly refreshing their browsers.[37]

Launch

The first batch of 10,000 boards is being manufactured in Taiwan and China,[38][39] rather than in the UK. This is in part because import duty is payable on individual components but not on finished products. Chinese manufacturers also quoted a lead time of four weeks, compared to 12 weeks in the UK. Savings can be reinvested in the Foundation's research and development activities.[39]

Initial sales commenced 29 February 2012[40] at 06:00 UTC, with only a 10,000-unit batch of the Model B boards being available.[5] On that date, it was announced that the Model A, originally to have had 128 MB of RAM, will be increased to 256 MB before release.[5] The two licensed stores selling them within the United Kingdom, Premier Farnell and RS Components, had their websites stalled by heavy web traffic immediately after the launch.[41] The official Raspberry Pi Twitter account reported that Premier Farnell sold out within a few minutes of the initial launch, whilst RS Components will ship to the UK only.[5]

Hardware

The foundation has released one model (the Model B) initially, and a second model (the Model A) will be released sometime later. Model A will have one USB port and no Ethernet controller, and will cost US$25, while Model B contains two USB ports and a 10/100 Ethernet controller[42] and costs US$35.

Though the Model A doesn't have an RJ45 Ethernet port, it can connect to a network by using a user-supplied USB Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter. As typical of modern computers, generic USB keyboards and mice are compatible with the Raspberry Pi.[11]

The Raspberry Pi will use Linux kernel-based operating systems. Debian GNU/Linux, Iceweasel, Calligra Suite and Python are planned to be bundled with the Raspberry Pi.[7]

The Raspberry Pi does not come with a real-time clock,[7] so an OS must use a network time server, or ask the user for time information at boot time to get access to time and date info for file time and date stamping. However, a real-time clock (such as the DS1307) with battery backup can be easily added via the I2C interface.

Specifications

Model A Model B
Target price:[7] USD 25 (GBP 16) US $35 (GB £22)
SoC:[7] Broadcom BCM2835 (CPU, GPU, DSP, and SDRAM)[3]
CPU: 700 MHz ARM1176JZF-S core (ARM11 family)[3]
GPU: Broadcom VideoCore IV,[43] OpenGL ES 2.0, 1080p30 h.264/MPEG-4 AVC high-profile decoder[3]
Memory (SDRAM): 256 Megabytes (shared with GPU)
USB 2.0 ports:[11] 1 2 (via integrated USB hub)[42]
Video outputs:[7] Composite RCA, HDMI
Audio outputs:[7] 3.5 mm jack, HDMI
Onboard storage:[11] SD / MMC / SDIO card slot
Onboard network:[7][11] None 10/100 Ethernet (RJ45)[42]
Low-level peripherals: 8 × GPIO, UART, I²C bus, SPI bus with two chip selects, +3.3 V, +5 V, ground[43][44]
Power ratings: 500 mA (2.5 W)[7] 700 mA (3.5 W)
Power source:[7] 5 volt via MicroUSB or GPIO header
Size: 85.60 mm × 53.98 mm (3.370 in × 2.125 in)[45]
Planned operating systems: Debian GNU/Linux, Fedora, Arch Linux[2]
Notes
  1. Model A and Model B are cultural references[46] to the original models of the British educational BBC Micro computer, developed by Acorn Computers, who originally developed the ARM processors (the architecture of the Raspberry Pi) and operating system RISC OS which will be able to be run on it.[25]
  2. On the model B beta boards, 128 MB is allocated by default to the GPU.[47] The Nokia 701 also uses 128 MB for the Broadcom VideoCore IV.[48] The minimum amount of memory that can be allocated to the GPU is 32 MB, but with restrictions to some abilities, in particular the loss to do 1080p video, per page 6 of the datasheet.
  3. Level 2 Cache is 128 KB, used primarily by the GPU, not the CPU, per page 6 of the datasheet.
  4. The ARM11 is based on version 6 of the ARM architecture, which due to its age is no longer supported by several popular versions of Linux, including Ubuntu.
  5. The available memory, 128–224 MiB, after subtracting 32–128 MiB for graphics memory, is less than the stated minimum requirement of 768 MiB to run a standard build of the Fedora operating system.[49] Neither the memory nor processing power meets the Debian recommended minimums, even for systems without a desktop. However, 128 MiB meets the absolute minimum for an i386 system, even with a desktop. The Debian manual states: "most users risk being frustrated if they ignore these suggestions."[50]
  6. The 128–224 MiB of available memory is twice the minimum requirement of 64 MiB needed to run Slackware Linux on an ARM or i386 system.[51] There are reports of Slackware running well on 32 MB ARM[52] and i386[53] systems. (While Slackware can load and run a GUI, it was designed to be run from the shell.) The Fluxbox window manager running under X Windows requires an additional 48 MB of RAM[54] (112 MB total).

Software

On February 19, 2012 the Raspberry Pi Foundation released its first proof of concept SD Card image that can be loaded onto an SD Card to produce a preliminary operating system. The image is based upon Debian 6.0 (Squeeze), with the LXDE desktop and the Midori browser, plus various programming tools. The image can also run on QEMU allowing the Raspberry Pi to be emulated on various other platforms.[55]

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a version of Fedora,[56] developed at Seneca College in Canada,[57] later. The Foundation intends to create an App Store website for people to exchange programs.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Alex Hope, co-author of the Next Gen report, is hopeful that the computer will engage children with the excitement of programming.[58] Co-author Ian Livingstone suggested that the BBC could be involved in building support for the device, possibly branding it as the "BBC Nano".[59] Chris Williams, writing in The Register sees the inclusion of programming languages such as Kids Ruby, Scratch and BASIC as a "good start" to equip kids with the skills needed in the future–although it remains to be seen how effective their use will be.[46] The Centre for Computing History strongly supports the Raspberry Pi project, feeling that it could "usher in a new era".[34] Before release, the board was showcased by ARM's CEO Warren East at an event in Cambridge outlining Google's ideas to improve UK science and technology education.[60]

Harry Fairhead, however, suggests that more emphasis should be put on improving the educational software available on existing hardware, using tools such as Google App Inventor to return programming to schools, rather than adding new hardware choices.[61] Simon Rockman, writing in a ZDNet blog, was of the opinion that teens will have "have better things to do", despite what happened in the '80s.[62]

Usage

Education

In the UK enquiries about the board have been received from schools in both the state and independent sectors, with around five times as much interest from the latter (January 2012). It is hoped that businesses will sponsor purchases for less advantaged schools.[16]

Marketing

In October 2011, the logo was selected from a number submitted from open competition. A shortlist of six was drawn up, with the final judging taking several days. The chosen design was based on a buckyball.[63]

Similar products

Single Board Computers

Single Board Computers targeting less experienced users

See also

References

  1. ^ Raspberry Pi: We are Live
  2. ^ a b c "FAQs". Raspberry Pi. Retrieved November 03, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f BCM2835 Media Processor; Broadcom.
  4. ^ a b c Brookes, Tim (February 24, 2012). "Raspberry Pi – A Credit-Card Sized ARM Computer – Yours For Only $25". MakeUseOf. Retrieved February 29, 2012. (RasPi for short)
  5. ^ a b c d Richard Lawler, 29 Feb 2012, Raspberry Pi credit-card sized Linux PCs are on sale now, $25 Model A gets a RAM bump, Engadget
  6. ^ Raspberry Pi: Cheat Sheet
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "FAQs". Raspberry Pi Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  8. ^ Cellan-Jones, Rory (2011-05-05). "A £15 computer to inspire young programmers". BBC News.
  9. ^ Price, Peter (2011-06-03). "Can a £15 computer solve the programming gap?". BBC Click. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  10. ^ Bush, Steve (2011-05-25). "Dongle computer lets kids discover programming on a TV". Electronics Weekly. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  11. ^ a b c d e Verified USB Peripherals and SDHC Cards; eLinux.org
  12. ^ a b c Upton, Eben (July 26, 2011). "FAQs". Raspberry Pi. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  13. ^ Upton, Liz (August 29, 2011). "FAQs". Raspberry Pi. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  14. ^ "David Braben on Raspberry Pi". Edge. November 25, 2011. Retrieved December 08, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ Wong, George (October 24, 2011). "Build your own prototype Raspberry Pi minicomputer". ubergizmo. Retrieved November 02, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ a b Moorhead, Joanna (January 09, 2012). "Raspberry Pi device will 'reboot computing in schools'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 20, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Tiny USB-Sized PC Offers 1080p HDMI Output". Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  18. ^ a b c "1129409 - Raspberry Pi Foundation". Charity Commission for England and Wales. 2011-06-06.
  19. ^ Mullins, Robert (2012). "Robert Mullins: Raspberry Pi". University of Cambridge. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  20. ^ "Raspberry Pi Foundation". Raspberry Pi Foundation. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  21. ^ Humphries, Matthew (2011-07-28). "Raspberry Pi $25 PC goes into alpha production". Geek.com. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  22. ^ "Raspberry Pi Youtube Channel". Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  23. ^ "Full HD video demo at TransferSummit Oxford". Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  24. ^ Lee, Jeffrey. "Newsround". The Icon Bar. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  25. ^ a b Holwerda, Thom (October 31, 2011). "Raspberry Pi To Embrace RISC OS". OSNews. Retrieved November 01, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  26. ^ Dewhurst, Christopher (December 2011). "The London show 2011". Archive (magazine). Vol. 23, no. 3. p. 3. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  27. ^ What happened to the beta boards? Dom Cobley (4 February 2012)
  28. ^ We have PCBs! (Raspberry Pi Blog)
  29. ^ More on the beta boards (Raspberry Pi Blog)
  30. ^ Bringing up a beta board (Raspberry Pi Blog)
  31. ^ We’re auctioning ten beta Raspberry Pi's; raspberrypi.org
  32. ^ Williams, Chris (January 03, 2012). "That Brit-built £22 computer: Yours for just £1,900 or more". The Register. Retrieved January 10, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Cheerin, Iris (January 11, 2012). "Raspberry Pi Goes Into Production". TechWeekEurope UK. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  34. ^ a b "One of the First Raspberry Pi Computers Donated to Museum". The Centre for Computing History. January 09, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ eBay list of items sold by Raspberry Pi (retrieved 13 January 2012)
  36. ^ eBay item (retrieved 13 January 2012)
  37. ^ ""Set your alarms!" - Raspberry Pi looks ready for early Wednesday launch". Cabume. February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  38. ^ Lee, Robert (January 17, 2012). "Raspberry Pi Balks At UK Tax Regime". Tax-News.com. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  39. ^ a b Weakley, Kirsty. "UK computing charity opts to manufacture product abroad". Retrieved January 20, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ "The Raspberry Pi £22 computer goes on general sale". BBC News. February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  41. ^ Paul, Ryan (February 29, 2012). "Raspberry Pi retailers toppled by demand as $35 Linux computer launches". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  42. ^ a b c SMSC LAN9512 Website; smsc.com
  43. ^ a b "Q&A with our hardware team". Raspberry Pi Foundation. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  44. ^ Raspberry PI GPIO Connector; eLinux.org
  45. ^ Final PCB artwork
  46. ^ a b Williams, Chris (28th November 2011). "Psst, kid... Wanna learn how to hack?". The Register. Retrieved 24th December 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  47. ^ I have a raspberry pi beta board ama
  48. ^ Nokia 701 has a similar Broadcom gpu
  49. ^ Fedora, What will I need?
  50. ^ Debian Minimum Hardware Requirements (Retrieved 16 February 2012)
  51. ^ The Slackware Linux Project: Installation Help
  52. ^ The ARMedslack March 2010 Archive by thread
  53. ^ Slackware Linux Essentials
  54. ^ Desktops: KDE vs Gnome (Linux Reviews)
  55. ^ linuxnews showing the first release of Debian Squeeze for Raspberry running on QEMU
  56. ^ Raspberry foundation announcing "first root filesystem available for download"
  57. ^ Chung, Emily (February 24, 2012). "$35 computer 'Raspberry Pi' readies for launch". CBC.ca. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  58. ^ Stanford, Peter (December 03, 2011). "Computing classes don't teach programming skills". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved February 27, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ Vallance, Chris (January 10, 2012). "Raspberry Pi bids for success with classroom coders". BBC News. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  60. ^ Osborn, George (February 23, 2012). "How Google can really help improve STEM teaching in the UK". Cabume. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  61. ^ Fairhead, Harry (December 02, 2011). "Raspberry Pi or Programming - What shall we teach the children?". I Programmer. Retrieved February 07, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  62. ^ Rockman, Simon (February 21, 2012). "Is raspberry pi a mid-life crisis?". ZDNet. Retrieved February 24, 2012. Just because young teens led the way in computing in the 1980s doesn't mean it should, will or can happen again. Those outside the tech age bubble have better things to do.
  63. ^ Humphries, Matthew. "Raspberry Pi selects a very clever logo". geek.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raspberry Pi.
Official Websites
Unofficial Websites
Technical Information
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raspberry_Pi&oldid=479473390"