14 DAY TRIAL // Mini PCs come out all the time, but the Raspberry Pi earned itself a lot of fame, even though it was mostly accidental. That is why no one missed its release in Asia, much like the Europe launch was well documented.
The credit card-sized ARM computer is usually loaded with Linux OS or a version of Symbian (usually Raspbian, a custom version made by the Radpberry Pi foundation).
It was made for students that wanted to learn computer programming. As such, it was designed as a low-cost platform only featuring the essentials, but capable of being modded.
Yesterday (March 26, 2013), RS Components, one of the two suppliers of the device said that the $25 / 19-25 Euro system was shipping in Asia.
For those that don't know, the current $25 model is called Raspberry Pi Model A and reached Europe last month.
It is weaker than the Model B (has half the RAM and a single USB port), hence the $10 / 7.68-10 price advantage.
"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 Components.
"The US$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."
To place an order, people just need to go here. The package includes the small system and some peripherals and accessories.
"We're really pleased to finally be able to offer the Model A board," said Eben Upton of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
"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 US$25 price we have been aiming at since we incorporated the Raspberry Pi Foundation as a charity. This is the realization of our long-standing ambition to provide the world with a US$25 computer."