Game developer creates a USB stick PC for $25 [HDMI 1080p, 700mhz]

Published on 05-06-2011 11:10 PM

David Braben is a very well-known game developer who runs the UK development studio Frontier Developments, but is just as well known for being the co-developer of Elite.

Over his career his studio has brought us the Rollercoaster Tycoon series, Thrillville, Lost Winds, and most recently Kinectimals. In the background, however, Braben has been trying to tackle another problem: getting programming and general learning of how computers work back into schools.

Braben argues that education since we entered the 2000s has turned towards ICT which teaches useful skills such as writing documents in a word processor, how to create presentations, and basic computer use skills. But that has replaced more computer science-like skills such as basic programming and understanding the architecture and hardware contained in a computer.

His solution is not to create his own course, but instead to manufacture a very low cost PC that can be given to kids for free and courses built up around their use. When we say low cost, we mean so low even the OLPC would be impressed.

Braben has developed a tiny USB stick PC that has a HDMI port in one end and a USB port on the other. You plug it into a HDMI socket and then connect a keyboard via the USB port giving you a fully functioning machine running a version of Linux. The cost? $25.

The hardware being offered is no slouch either. It uses a 700MHz ARM11 processor coupled with 128MB of RAM and runs OpenGL ES 2.0 allowing for decent graphics performance with 1080p output confirmed. Storage is catered for by an SD card slot. It also looks as though modules can be attached such as the 12MP camera seen in the image above.

We can expect it to run a range of Linux distributions, but it looks like Ubuntu may be the distro it ships with. That means it will handle web browsing, run office applications, and give the user a fully functional computer to play with as soon as it’s plugged in. All that and it can be carried in your pocket or on a key chain.

This tiny, cheap PC is going to be distributed through a new charitable foundation called theRaspberry Pi Foundation. It will also promote computer science studies in schools.

As for when the Raspberry Pi device will become available, Braben says he hopes to be distributing it within the next 12 months.

Source: Geek

Categories:
Hardware

14 Comments

megabyteme - 05-07-2011, 12:12 AM
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/me waits for Detale to get one and water cool it.

duke0102 - 05-07-2011, 12:20 AM
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Me wants one *drool*

brilman - 05-07-2011, 01:07 AM
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Me 1st

Cabalo - 05-07-2011, 01:23 AM
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I'll definitely have one of those too, as soon as they are available.

Sporkk - 05-07-2011, 03:38 AM
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Wouldn't that still be a bit weak for ubuntu? Even xubuntu recommends 512 mb of ram.
I put puppy linux on a 800 mhz p3 with 128 megs of ram. It worked but not that great.

This is really cool and a cheap price however I don't see it going anywhere when phones have more power.

NomeNecio - 05-07-2011, 11:00 AM
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You're forgetting that it only costs $25. A (smart)phone is much, much more expensive....

Xbox_360 - 05-07-2011, 11:30 AM
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This is just fantastic. I am sure almost any person that is into computers will buy one, I know I will. This is meant to be a cheap PC so you probably wont find high performance parts on it. He even said in the video he wants to keep it cheap so schools could give them to students, or kids with parents that have a low income can purchase this without breaking the bank.

Appzalien - 05-07-2011, 11:35 PM
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Now if they could only create a $25 monitor to use it with. An HDMI enabled monitor will cost you at least $200. With no mouse it wouldn't be much use for me either, I use my mouse more than the keyboard and shun keyboard shortcuts except maybe ctrl alt del.

JeffWin - 05-08-2011, 01:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Appzalien

Now if they could only create a $25 monitor to use it with. An HDMI enabled monitor will cost you at least $200. With no mouse it wouldn't be much use for me either, I use my mouse more than the keyboard and shun keyboard shortcuts except maybe ctrl alt del.

TV's have HDMI's and shortcuts are quicker than pointing devices.

Appzalien - 05-08-2011, 03:25 AM
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Originally Posted by JeffWin

Originally Posted by Appzalien

Now if they could only create a $25 monitor to use it with. An HDMI enabled monitor will cost you at least $200. With no mouse it wouldn't be much use for me either, I use my mouse more than the keyboard and shun keyboard shortcuts except maybe ctrl alt del.

TV's have HDMI's and shortcuts are quicker than pointing devices.

Gee I forgot, those poor kids will certainly have high def TV's with 3D no doubt too right? Shortcuts are only quicker if you don't use the mouse. If you have to let go of the mouse with your right hand to hold down three keys (ctrl alt del), what's so short about that?

Xbox_360 - 05-08-2011, 04:31 AM
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That is true that not everyone has a HDTV or HD monitor, but it still is a good start to cheap computing. In the picture you can clearly see you can use a mouse as well, but the thing is you would need to buy a usb hub making it cost more. I think he should have thought to put at least 2 usb ports for a mouse and keyboard.

duke0102 - 05-08-2011, 07:05 AM
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Only need one USB to connect to a hub and people can just get an hdmi to vga cable for the other one

JeffWin - 05-08-2011, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Appzalien

Originally Posted by JeffWin

TV's have HDMI's and shortcuts are quicker than pointing devices.

Gee I forgot, those poor kids will certainly have high def TV's with 3D no doubt too right? Shortcuts are only quicker if you don't use the mouse. If you have to let go of the mouse with your right hand to hold down three keys (ctrl alt del), what's so short about that?

Your point was that a HDMI connection only allow it to be connected to a hi end monitor, this is not true. In the UK ( even in the poorest households ), you will likely find at least flat screen with hdmi ( not 3d tho I'm afraid ) - Welfare state FTW.
I also pointed out that shortcuts are always quicker...if you can't c+a+d ( or c+p, another two handed shortcut ) quicker by hand than by mouse, you have problems.

Cabalo - 05-08-2011, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by duke0102

Only need one USB to connect to a hub and people can just get an hdmi to vga cable for the other one

Touché!