Raspberry Pi

Message: 25 Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:45:17 -0700 From: ben <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Raspberry Pi Message-ID: <512F899D.2020803 at jetnet.ab.ca> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed On 2/28/2013 9:19 AM, Liam Proven wrote: On 28 Feb 2013 15:07, "ben" <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca> wrote: On 2/27/2013 5:34 PM, geneb wrote: On Wed, 27 Feb 2013, Tony Duell wrote: I don't know how that got sent half-done! Problaby becuase you are using some modern device.... Why don't you create a device with the equivalent (at least) abilities of the Raspberry Pi, but with your "enhancements" and sell it for $35. Until that happens, I suggest you sit down, shut up and quit being a cranky tonker. g. I disagree here. That is mass market prices. Yes, of course. That is the entire point of the exercise. How small & cheap can one make a reasonably modern computer that can surf the web and run modern graphical programming tools such as Scratch. The answer is, ?25 - and I think that is pretty impressive. I want a computer *Done* right. HP calculators ~ 1975 was the last computing device I have seen done right. What does that mean? Build quality doesn't really enter into it. It's a single, credit-card sized PCB. It has an under-specified processor & an over-specified graphics chip, but they are what was available cheaply from the day job of the designers. It's not as open as I'd like. But for the money, it is stunning. What would you have done differently? Bear in mind the price point. Equal or lower price only. What would you change? That "low price is best trend" I would change. For me a modern programing tool is "text editor" and 80x24 text screen on 15" display. Explain to me why a cheap PC in my home can't keep up to the net (windows 7) and a credit card computer can do better for surfing. Ben. "Anyone can build a fast CPU. The trick is to build a fast system." Seymoure Cray ****************************************************************************************************** Past and the future of computing is forever changing as what we believe to be true of the past isn?t always right. Something comes along and revision is necessary. One more thing; I apologize for bringing Computing the old way - Is it a thing of the past? but I have to add this: Is the Raspberry Pi something we want to experience? Can we teach kids how computers work today? Is there a need to do this! As far as I can determine they want them to work when they turn them on; not to know how they do something! Just do it! That?s their attitude and mass-marketers know this. Sorry about this rant. I?ll add this: No Internet; no multi-media may be what people want: A 1980?s computing technology where word processing, spreadsheet(ing) and database(ing) is just what many want! Here are three quotes that sum up my view: Pliny the Younger wrote: Historia quoquo modo scripta delectat. History, however it is written, always pleases(!). And paraphrasing Gotschke, the microcomputer was pre-determined, ?unfolded as by fate, as by a biological metamorphosis?. And finally, Ted Nelson, of Computer Lib fame, writes: ?The strange thing is that all of this took so long(development of the personal computer) and then happened so suddenly.? Murray--