Should I get Pi now?

[kkid]

I want Pi as a backup computer for when I go to university in September 2013. However, if there are going to be upgrades to the computer between now and then I will want to wait as, due to studying computer science, I will want the most advanced one possible. If there is going to be an upgrade, up until about July 2013 I'll wait for it (not until September as I'll want to get used to it before I go). If not, I'll buy one now so I can have a good play.

[jamesh]

AFAIK there will be no change to the Raspi (overall - so same SoC, same memory etc) in the next year. There will be changes in SW though, but that is a simple upgrade. So, I would expect if you buy now, it will still be essentially the same machine in a years time.

If that helps!

[kkid]

ok thanks, I'll probably buy one soon then.

Hasn't there been a recent upgrade though (RAM I think)? Considering it has only recently been released and already had an upgrade is making me think it could happen again though.

[Joe Schmoe]

ok thanks, I'll probably buy one soon then.

Hasn't there been a recent upgrade though (RAM I think)? Considering it has only recently been released and already had an upgrade is making me think it could happen again though.

Keep in mind that the RPF are strong believers in the lesson of "The Osbourne effect".

[ghans]

Good point.


ghans

[jamesh]

ok thanks, I'll probably buy one soon then.

Hasn't there been a recent upgrade though (RAM I think)? Considering it has only recently been released and already had an upgrade is making me think it could happen again though.

We do not envisage any changes to the SoC or the memory for quite some time. So a Pi you buy now will be functionally the same as the one you buy in a years time.

[W. H. Heydt]

ok thanks, I'll probably buy one soon then.

Hasn't there been a recent upgrade though (RAM I think)? Considering it has only recently been released and already had an upgrade is making me think it could happen again though.

We do not envisage any changes to the SoC or the memory for quite some time. So a Pi you buy now will be functionally the same as the one you buy in a years time.

So...no MAJOR changes until the RPF releases the Raspberry Rho?

[michele.x]

So...no MAJOR changes until the RPF releases the Raspberry Rho?

Hey that will be the Italian version of the Raspberry, the model between the Raspberry Milano and the Raspberry Magenta!


(to understand the joke: http://goo.gl/maps/klMZ6)

[elatllat]

I would wait to buy any computer until you actually need it,
But it seems like the RaspberryPi is still the most economical option:
http://elinux.org/RaspberryPi_Comparison

[piglet]

Keep in mind that the RPF are strong believers in the lesson of "The Osbourne effect".

Ahh - the first thought I had when reading that are "Eh? Ozzie?". I suppose the lesson "Drugs are bad for you" is not a bad lesson - even if that wasn't the poster's meaning.

[W. H. Heydt]

So...no MAJOR changes until the RPF releases the Raspberry Rho?

Hey that will be the Italian version of the Raspberry, the model between the Raspberry Milano and the Raspberry Magenta!


(to understand the joke: http://goo.gl/maps/klMZ6)

To understand my joke, you can look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Alphabet

[toxibunny]

Get one now. You might as well...

[svennd]

"backup computer" is a bit an overstatement. Its a fully functional computer alright, but its ARM, so no m$ office.

Should you get a Pi now ? depends, its a fun way to learn allot of things, linux, programming, hardware, ... But i don't think its a backup pc for any "modern" computer. Also 25 dollars is not that much, its a round at your university club.

[Burngate]

Hardware-wise, there have been a couple of updates, and experience tells us there will be more.
However, so far they've kept backwards compatability, and I suspect future updates will be the same.

Software-wise there will be lots of updates, but they will almost certainly remain valid for old hardware.

So I can see no reason for not buying now - except for one thing.
There's a queue miles long. Every person who joins the queue makes it longer, and extends the time before which we can just walk into Asda and pick one up.
So do the community a favour. For-go your chance of a Pi, in the interests of the rest of us

[pkellyuk]

you will have finished your course by the time it gets delivered (plus some fun with RMA a few dud units). You can however feel good that you bought a british product - even if you did not actually get to use it, possibly made in china, rule Britannia wot god save the baked bean.

[ghans]

What data do you have to back this up ?
Except personal experience i mean.

ghans

[ahstwin]

If you're expecting a powerful system rivalling today's towers and laptops then the Pi isn't for you. It's highly experimental and you won't be able to use it as your main PC without running into limitations.

However, if you're considering it as a data backup solution, it's quite nifty and can work in conjunction with an external hard drive to become a nice little FTP server.

[jamesh]

you will have finished your course by the time it gets delivered (plus some fun with RMA a few dud units). You can however feel good that you bought a british product - even if you did not actually get to use it, possibly made in china, rule Britannia wot god save the baked bean.

What a pathetic thing to say. And basically untrue.