RS Components has announced it will be shipping the new Model A version of Raspberry Pi, the low-cost, credit card-sized computer board designed to boost the uptake of programming among young people and enthusiasts worldwide. RS has also signed a new global distribution agreement with The Raspberry Pi Foundation to sell Raspberry Pis around the world.
Priced at just $25, the Raspberry Pi Model A contains 256MB RAM, a single USB port and, unlike the existing Model B version, has no Ethernet connection. As a result, in addition to costing less, the new Model A has a lower profile and consumes significantly less power than the Model B, making it suitable for remote battery-powered applications such as robotics or data logging, or for creating an inexpensive media centre in the home. It is also ideal for use in industrial control and automation applications, which typically require fewer on-board features for their development.
“The arrival of the Model A board is great news for anyone wishing to develop low-power applications with their Raspberry Pi,” said Glenn Jarrett, Global Head of Product Marketing at RS. “The $25 price point makes it even more attractive to system integrators, and increases accessibility for those working within a restricted budget, such as in education.”
Eben Upton of the Raspberry Pi Foundation added, “We’re really pleased to finally be able to offer the Model A board. The lower power consumption and reduced height make it a great fit for so many of the projects that people are building with their Pis; and we’re excited to be able to make access to computing available at the $25 price we have been aiming at since we incorporated The Raspberry Pi Foundation as a charity. The Model A Raspberry Pis will be shipping from our distributors very soon, and customers will have them in their hands from February onwards. This is the realisation of our long-standing ambition to provide the world with a $25 computer.”
The Raspberry Pi Model A board can be ordered now, along with the associated accessories and peripherals, via the RS website. Please note there may be some delays in shipping outside of Europe as the product is currently awaiting final compliance certification.
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