For those looking for a computer with rock bottom price, a device was just unveiled what might just be the perfect match. This is the Raspberry Pi Zero, which costs a measly $5. It will also be the first computer to be given out for free, as it is being included in the MagPi magazine without additional cost.
The Pi Zero measures 6.5 cm by 3 cm, a tiny piece of barebone hardware but a fully-fledge working computer nonetheless. It has 1 Ghz processor, 512 MB of RAM and runs on Raspbian, a Linux-based operating system optimized for the device. To provide some context, it is the same as a PC from year 2000 or the iPad 2, Metro reported. The platform also runs apps like Scratch, Minecraft and Sonic Pi, according to Engadget.
Raspberry Pi Zero is developed by the Raspberry Foundation, a British computer manufacturer. The device is mainly targeted towards researchers, academics and hobbyists who would like to build do-it-yourself computing projects.
"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. Indeed, owners will have to purchase a USB hub in order to connect peripherals," Eben Upton, Raspberry Pi Founder, posted in a blog.
Certainly, the Pi Zero cannot compare with existing PCs in terms of power. But it can do plenty of heavy lifting despite its size due to its new chip, which runs 40 percent faster than its previous iteration, Engadget reported.
