The Raspberry Pi is a miniature ARM-based PC and by connecting it to a monitor or TV and keyboard, budding computer programmers can use the power of the Raspberry Pi to develop new programmes, games and apps, enabling the board to then handle many of the tasks traditionally performed by a PC, such as internet browsing, word processing and spreadsheets. It also plays high-definition video.
Previously available only from the dedicated RS online Pi Store, businesses, engineering professionals and educational institutions can now route their Raspberry Pi order through the local RS websites.
"There have been extraordinary levels of demand for Raspberry Pi since its launch earlier this year, so we have no doubt that customers worldwide will welcome the volume availability of the boards," said Glenn Jarrett, global head of product marketing at RS. "Many interesting Raspberry Pi projects have already sprouted in the few months since we started shipping the product, and the release of unlimited quantities will open up opportunities to prospective programmers on a mass scale."
The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a charity established to promote the development of computer development skills in education across the globe. Its vision is for Raspberry Pi to provide budding IT developers and programmers with a base platform to exploit the full power and potential of computing within the Linux environment, at a remarkably low cost. As such, Raspberry Pi computers act as an enabler for the next generation of programmers to enter the IT industry.
