One of the cheapest computers in history is now the fastest selling. The latest developer's computer from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Pi Zero, sold out its stock of 20,000 units in under 24 hours, excluding the lot that's been sold for inflated prices on eBay.
Bigger than a quarter and a fraction of the size of a five-dollar bill, the $5 Raspberry Pi Zero smashes another set of barriers for people looking to duck the overhead in learning computer programming. It measures only about 2.3 inches by 1.2 by inches and is about 0.2 inches thick (65mm x 30mm x 5mm).
Pushing down the price of PC hardware is still one of the most important things the Raspberry Pi Foundation does, says founder Eben Upton.
"Even in the developed world, a programmable computer is a luxury item for a lot of people, and every extra dollar that we ask someone to spend decreases the chance that they'll choose to get involved," says Upton.
The first set of Raspberry Pi computers ranged in cost from $20 to $35. The Pi Zero isn't just a fraction of the price of the Model A — it's a mere sliver, and is half a step faster.
The Pi Zero's 1GHz ARM11 core processor is about 40 percent faster than the CPU used in the original Raspberry Pi programmable computer. It has a half a GB of RAM, which is twice as much as that of the original Model A.
It includes the now-standard microSD slot, which was introduced with the Model A+. It has a micro USB port for data and power, along with a mini HDMI socket for 1080p 60 frames-per-second video.
The success of the programmable computers still hasn't gotten old for the foundation, according to Upton. The organization is "always amazed by the level of interest" in its products, he told Wired.
"Right now it appears that we've sold every individual Zero we made [roughly 20,000 units] and most of the 10,000 MagPi issues with cover-mounted units," Upton says. "People are scouring the country for the last few Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury and Smiths branches that haven't sold out."
People aren't just looking for the computer at the organization's retail partners. They're also hunting for the Pi Zero on eBay, where some people are looking to flip the $5 computers for multiples more.
"If there's been a sour note, it's that a small number of touts have taken advantage of the shortage to line their pockets on eBay," Upton says.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation is asking people to hold off of those eBay offers for just a bit longer, as the organization is working to put out more Pi Zeroes for $5 each.
