Raspberry Pi to Ship by End of March
The Raspberry Pi computer, aimed towards teaching the basics of computer science in public schools, will begin to ship at the end of March, according to RS distributors, one of the companies licensed to sell them.
"The first batch of boards is due to arrive into RS warehouses toward the end of March and will be dispatched to customers on a first-come, first served basis in line with customer registrations," said RS to ElectronicsWeekly. "We will be shipping the next batch in May/June."
The Rasberry Pi foundation, the organization responsible for the device's development, ordered 10,000 boards, and it plans to hold a small portion back. Two other distributors will split the remainder.
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The Rasberry Pi boards were first offered by distributers RS and Element 14 at 6 a.m. on Feb. 9. The interest for the product was astounding.
"We sold out in under a half hour," said Leitch of Element 14 to ElectronicsWeekly. "Tens of thousands of people ordered in a couple of days."
RS also received more than 200,000 registrations of interest on its website.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation never expected this type of a reaction.
"The level of demand has really taken us by surprise," said Liz Upton for the organization. "We've every confidence that our chosen distributors are doing everything possible to satisfy the amazing demand for our first product."
For those unfamiliar with the product, Raspberry Pi is a single board computer that is being developed in the U.K. for education purposes. The Foundation plans to offer two versions, with one costing $25 and the other at $35. It hopes to stimulate the teaching of basic computer science in schools with its introduction.
It also aims to make the study of computer science more enticing and fun for students.
