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Raspberry Pi $25 PC on course for January arrival

The ultra-low-cost computer Raspberry Pi will launch next month in two versions, starting at just $25.

Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
A shot of the Rasberry Pi in beta form.
A shot of the Rasberry Pi in beta form. Rasberry Pi

The $25 computer project known as Raspberry Pi is set to go on sale next month.

The tiny computer, which runs Linux on an ARM processor and sports USB, audio and video out, as well as an SD card slot, was designed to be an ultra-low-cost computer aimed at children.

In a blog post picked up by Business Insider this week, its creators noted that the machine will be available in January following some additional testing on the hardware and software.

At launch the diminutive machine will be offered in two configurations, one at $25 and the other at $35. The extra $10 gets you double the RAM at 256MB, as well as the addition of an Ethernet port for getting online. Its creators have also announced the "Gertboard," a small expansion board that can be added to the Rasberry Pi. Its purpose is to "flash LEDs on and off, drive motors, run sensors and all that other fun stuff."

The computing project is the brainchild of game developer David Braben, and follows in the footsteps of previous low-cost computing initiatives like One Laptop per Child, which aimed a $100 price tag for Internet-ready laptops. There was also last year's $35 tablet in India, which ran Google's Android OS.