Time for a smaller option?

[stollar]

Hey, now with projects like the Raspberry Pi Supercomputer ( http://paritynews.com/hardware/item/302 ... ry-pi-lego ) isn't time we had a new version of the Pi with the bare minimum, ethernet and USB - no sound,hdmi,gpio etc.
Then you could get it out there even cheaper and universities and others wanting to make 'brambles' and other pi-networks can have a cheaper option... You can even sell them in 10-packs!!!

[RaTTuS]

no because what you really want is 1GB ethernet, more ram , and a couple of muliplexed e-ponies

[jamesh]

Hey, now with projects like the Raspberry Pi Supercomputer ( http://paritynews.com/hardware/item/302 ... ry-pi-lego ) isn't time we had a new version of the Pi with the bare minimum, ethernet and USB - no sound,hdmi,gpio etc.
Then you could get it out there even cheaper and universities and others wanting to make 'brambles' and other pi-networks can have a cheaper option... You can even sell them in 10-packs!!!

All that stuff is built into the SoC, so is effectively 'free' on top of the Arm core. You could save a few pence by removing unnecessary connectors ($2-$3?). If you know of a SoC without that stuff (I don't), and that is cheaper than the BRCM2835 (Allwinner A10 is a little bit cheaper, but not as well supported, and still have all the gubbins), then that would be a possibility.

[mikerr]

Pi is basically 2 chips - the broadcom SoC and a USB hub/ethernet chip.

A one chip solution (AKA model A) would be just the Broadcom chip, which give you just one USB and no ethernet.

[stollar]

Actually, I'm thinking of the physical size! TBH, I'm not even sure if it would make the unit much cheaper as you said.

... isn't time we had a new version of the Pi with the bare minimum, ethernet and USB

All that stuff is built into the SoC, so is effectively 'free' on top of the Arm core. You could save a few pence by removing unnecessary connectors ($2-$3?)...

[W. H. Heydt]

Actually, I'm thinking of the physical size! TBH, I'm not even sure if it would make the unit much cheaper as you said.

According to previously posted data, making the PCB smaller would make it more expensive. And that's without going into the costs of designing an entire new PCB...

[Dweeber]

Actually, I'm thinking of the physical size! TBH, I'm not even sure if it would make the unit much cheaper as you said.

The Model A board is not even shipping yet.

You need to revisit the goals of the Raspberry Pi Foundation....