Raspberry Pi computer - the real cost

kwaggawerner said:
Back when it was R260 I would've grabbed it, but with the 100 bucks price hike, it's half the price of a Intel Atom board... which at x86/x64, can do WAAAAYYY more than ARM-only OS'es...
Click to expand...

Raspberry PI is to PCs what Mindstorm is to robots - its a cool toy to play with. But do agree with cost, I wanted to use these for digital signage but now rather looking at using Atoms
 
The first component you will need to run the Pi is a power source. The unit can be powered via microUSB and requires 0.7A at 5 volts. This means that any cellphone charger within these parameters will work (such as those bundled with BlackBerry smartphones).
Click to expand...
Blackberry finally becomes useful again in SA!
 
This board's launch in SA is quite controversial. I've been keeping an eye on this.

They chose one of the worst possible suppliers to distribute this product in SA.
They chose RS Components, aka the "5 times the price store".
Other companies, such as Communica, Electronics123 and maybe an online retailer such as Prophecy would have been by FAR more suitable.

Because of this, and RS being deeply entrenched in UK nanny state culture, they are spending many weeks trying to get CE and god knows what else approvals on this product. God forbid the Queen finds them selling a board without CE, VDE, KEMA EUR, and UL approvals. This board is probably not going to pass most of these approvals and I am waiting to see this fall flat on its face.

In the main, products such as these, classed as "Development boards" are usually not required to even have CE markings as it is understood and accepted these things are usually used to design something, which is later then turned into a saleable and safe product.

The best advice I can give is, bring it in yourself from overseas. Stick it to RS.
 
Thing is, Koosi, RS Components is one of the two official distributors for the device, and RS-C is an overseas company, not a local company (they just have a local branch)...
Electronics123 is a nice shop but they're way overpriced in my experience.
 
The Raspberry Pi might retail for less than R260 locally.

The unit will retail in SA for around R359.20 from local distributor RS Electronics, and is aimed at markets such as the education field where costs can be a concern.
Click to expand...

Why make the statement might cost R 260 and then will cost R 360?
 
I've actually given up on ever getting one, after RS "Lost" my registration on launch day, that I made 6mins after it was listed :(
 
Last edited:
Please, write more articles like this to turn people off.... I want to jump the queue. :)

Anyway, none of this is news. It was pretty clear right from the start that you would have to buy cables, storage, input devices.... and pay for delivery.
 
FaSMaN said:
I've actually given up on ever getting one, after RS "Lost" my registration on launch day, that I made 6mins after it was listed :(
Click to expand...
How do you know your registration was lost? I filled in the form and haven't heard anything, I assumed because they haven't arrived yet.
 
I didn't realise it was just for the board and that there aren't any enclosures for it yet. What are you meant to put it in? A jar?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X