two questions: why USB2 instead of USB3 and will there be a multi-nic version at some point?

RasPi's BCM2835 only has a USB 2.0 port.  The Model B hooks this up to an SMSC LAN9512 2-port USB hub with Ethernet.  Given that the connection to the CPU is USB 2.0, there is really no point to hooking it up externally to anything faster.  If you want a high-performance firewall, you'll need something with built-in Ethernet ports.

The raspberrypi.org site is still suspended due to high traffic of loyal Razzers seeing if it's back up yet.  However, you can get RasPi technical information at the Wiki: http://elinux.org/RaspberryPiBoard and http://elinux.org/Rpi_Hardware.

During the design of RPi we had to make lots of difficult decisions about what to put on and what to leave off.

Once we had the basic functionality for running Linux and getting a display, pretty much everything else came down to space and/or meeting the cost target we had set.

Although we had other ports that we could have probably added more Ethernet Functionality to it would have significantly added to the complexity of the design. The SMSC LAN9512 works brilliantly for us as it gives us the Ethernet and a second USB in a very cost effective way.

The model A dispenses with this chip and we run the BCM2835 USB straight out.

To get round this limitation what most people are planning is to use a 3-4 port USB Hub, wire one back to the Micro USB on the RPi to provide the power (we can do this as the data pins are not connected) and it then gives 3 spare ports for mouse, keyboard, memory stick etc.

We have tried to give as many routes to expand the RPi as possible but have not compromised the baseline price points. So onboard Camera, Wifi, LCD drive and other good stuff got trimmed off the wish list fairly early on.

We have also been asked quite a bit about Power over Ethernet but if you look at the demand trail it has mainly come from application ideas well away from our original goals.

Let us know what you think, have we made a ‘wrong turn’ in our drive to Raspberry Pi Models A and B?

Cheers – Pete

Trustee and part of the Hardware Design Team.

Hi Pete

Thanks for the reply. I've got absolutely no problem with the hardware decisions you've made, especially considering you're primarily catering for the educational market! I'm sure as costs come down and you start getting more feedback from users you'll probably add new functionality into the next generation of RPi, however for the time being, I think you guys have done a fantastic job.

I'm also looking forward to seeing the latest demo of RISC OS running on an RPi in Wakefield next month, now that would definitely rekindle some fond memories - I just hope I can ressurect my 120MB harddrive from my old Acorn A3010 and retrieve my first few years worth of programming!

Hi Pete

Thanks for the reply. I've got absolutely no problem with the hardware decisions you've made, especially considering you're primarily catering for the educational market! I'm sure as costs come down and you start getting more feedback from users you'll probably add new functionality into the next generation of RPi, however for the time being, I think you guys have done a fantastic job.

I'm also looking forward to seeing the latest demo of RISC OS running on an RPi in Wakefield next month, now that would definitely rekindle some fond memories - I just hope I can ressurect my 120MB harddrive from my old Acorn A3010 and retrieve my first few years worth of programming!