--- description: Proving that people love cheap computers, the $25 Raspberry Pi PC is impossible to buy, just hours after going on sale. The Raspberry Pi is... title: Raspberry Pi $25 Computer on Sale, but Good Luck Getting One image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc79d72962ef49249/6998bca3e1ba00721598c68c/raspberrypi.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) # Raspberry Pi $25 Computer on Sale, but Good Luck Getting One by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) Feb 29, 2012 4:00 PM CUT  Raspberry Pi Foundation by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) Feb 29, 2012 4:00 PM CUT Proving that people love cheap computers, the $25 Raspberry Pi PC is impossible to buy, just hours after going on sale. The [Raspberry Pi](http://www.raspberrypi.org "undefined") is a $25 computer board, the size of a credit card, with no frills. It runs Linux-based operating systems, and comes without a case, keyboard or monitor. Its jacks and ports protrude from the tiny green motherboard. Two versions are available: the $25 Model A and the $35 Model B. Both have a 700 MHz ARM11 processor, 256 MB of RAM and ports for USB, HDMI, SD, RCA video and 3.5 mm audio. The more expensive Model B has an Ethernet jack and two USB slots instead of one. (**MORE:** [Tiny $25 Computer for Kids Who Want to Learn Real Computing](http://techland.time.com/2011/05/05/tiny-25-computer-for-kids-who-want-to-learn-real-computing/ "undefined"))  The German magazine Bild broke all kinds of global monarchy protocol this week when they dared to publish photos of Kate Middleton's royal bottom just as it was exposed by a fierce breeze in Australia.nBut that's not all the intrepid magazine did: they also published their opportunistic photos of Britain's second-most coveted bum right next to a bottom-focused shot of America's tabloid royalty and international newlywed, Kim Kardashian.nAnd then, in a move that will probably disturb the time space continuum for the rest of the month, both backside images were displayed next to each other under a truly tasteless headline containing a single German phrase that somehow combines a host of vulgar concepts involving bottoms, sexual feelings, gratitude and happy, happy weekends.nBut the thing is, Bild has done something far more profound than just saying "here are two sets of totally different but equally famous ladies' bums, aren't we amusing?" What they've really done is broken the thin tabloid membrane that separated these two women whom we thought were opposites.nThink about it: Both had royal weddings. Both were due with their first babies the same month. Both wear clothes that half the women on the planet want (not the same half, mind you, but still). Neither can survive without their paparazzi. Both are married to famous men who look incredibly awkward when they have to pose next to their more-popular wives.nAnd finally, the one quality that helps us understand that humanity has far more in common that we knew...both women seem to favor sheer hosiery. The [Raspberry Pi Foundation](http://www.raspberrypi.org/ "undefined") created the computers with the goal of getting children interested in computer science and programming. Whatever small profit the group makes from Raspberry Pi, it puts back into the charity. But first, the Foundation is putting Raspberry Pi in the hands of enthusiasts. And that’s where things have gotten a little out of hand. As [OSNews reports](http://www.osnews.com/story/25661/Raspberry%5FPi%5Flaunch%5Fturns%5Finto%5Ffrenzy "undefined"), the websites for both retailers who were selling the Raspberry Pi–[Premier Farnell](http://downloads.element14.com/raspberryPi1.html "undefined") and [RS Components](http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=raspberrypi&cm%5Fmmc=UK-PPC-0212-%5F-02%5FRaspberry%5FPI-%5F-Raspberry%5FPI-%5F-Raspberry%5FPi "undefined")–crashed shortly after the launch at 7:00 Central European Time. Both sites are back online now, but Premier Farnell has already sold out of its first batch. RS is taking sign-up details for further ordering instructions, but [according to Engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/raspberry-pi-credit-card-sized-linux-pcs-are-on-sale-now-25-mo/ "undefined"), the retailer is only shipping within the United Kingdom. Raspberry Pi’s website says people will be able to place batch orders in about a month, so hopefully folks who want a cheap Linux box for tinkering will have no problem getting one then. (**MORE:** [The $35 Tablet: Will India’s ‘iPad’ Sell Stateside?](http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097068,00.html "undefined")) Raspberry Pi $25 Computer on Sale, but Good Luck Getting One ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7236725/raspberry-pi-35-computer-on-sale-but-good-luck-getting-one/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7236725/raspberry-pi-35-computer-on-sale-but-good-luck-getting-one/"},"headline":"Raspberry Pi $25 Computer on Sale, but Good Luck Getting One","datePublished":"2012-02-29T16:00:11.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T10:49:42.100Z","description":"Proving that people love cheap computers, the $25 Raspberry Pi PC is impossible to buy, just hours after going on sale. 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