i think the whole hype about Rpi being the big bad educational tool was nothing more than a pr stunt to get it selling quick, and that is just what happened. i also remember hearing somthing about this being developed by employees of broadcom, when it was first released the soc data sheet required a nondisclosure agreement, so right out of the gate there were problems calling it open source.
i'm sorry if i dont get the idea about teaching computer science with an embeded linux board. don't comp sci cources use full-blown computers already? and if you really want to learn about how computers work, it is much better to start with an 8051 or 8088 and assembly.
but now it seems the more i read, the more i can't suggest the pi for any use other than a media center.
but now it seems the more i read, the more i can't suggest the pi for any use other than a media center.
Professionals who are aware of the relevant FCC regulations shouldn't be suggesting the Pi for use in any residential application in FCC jurisdiction anyway, since the device does not have FCC certification for residential use. That would be a Class B certification, and it doesn't have one at the present date.
I doubt that anyone would deny that media centres constitute an overwhelmingly residential or domestic use of a digital device. It's probably as close to being a poster child for residential use as one could find anywhere.
the roku is nice, but I always have old desktop pc hardware thrown at me, been using one as a media centre for a few years now.
even if the Rpi makes it way to the super poor areas, it would probably be traded for a meal or two. what good is an internet connected device if there is no internet?
while the Internet can be a good tool to help learn for people who actually use it responsibly, it is also a great distraction, and it lends to the "cut and paste" type of problem solving, that has no educational value whatsoever.
I suspect that clever sleight of hand won't carry much weight with the FCC though.
Thanks Morgaine - the amount of evidence suggesting that it's an end-user (consumer / residential) product will hopefully carry a metric bunch of weight though. A cynic might suggest that the FCC doc. linked to in the other thread might be in need of a bit of an update (I think it was dated 1993) and that a really slick lawyer might claim that the Pi is just a populated motherboard and is thus exempt. The Foundation may have to airbrush all references to the word "computer" from the internet in order to pull this off, but they've had a lot of practice at airbrushing history on their forum... [/tongue-in-cheek mode]
For our part here on Element14, all the credit clearly has to go to yourself for nailing this issue near the beginning of Pi time and persevering with it until today. It was only extremely recently that I finally picked up on your FCC links in detail, and was amazed by what I read there.
If Element14 had paid attention to your postings on the subject last year, they wouldn't be in this risky situation they are in today.
perhaps the problems with certification was engineered into the Rpi to prevent it from being used as an OEM part of a finished comercial product. keeping it in the educational or maker spaces.
HOT OFF THE PRESS UPDATE FROM EBEN UPTON OF RASPBERRY PI EARLIER TODAY:
“We have spoken with BIS this morning, and have been told that, given the volumes involved and the demographic mix of likely users, the development board exemption is not applicable to us; as a result, even the first uncased developer units of Raspberry Pi will require a CE mark prior to distribution in the EU...... ....we are working with RS Components and element14/Premier Farnell to bring Raspberry Pi into a compliant state as soon as is humanly possible.”
and
Over the past weeks, it is clear that customers who have pre-ordered are going to use the Raspberry Pi as a finished product and not just an engineering development board. We see it as the most responsible approach to ensure that all Pi’s meet the required standards for finished products in their respective country. We are prioritizing the compliance testing process by working closely with the Raspberry Pi foundation and RS Components to make sure there are no more delays. We take our commitment and responsibility in this area very seriously and believe that while this is a frustrating short-term delay, it’s worth it to ensure our customers receive a fully compliant product.
It would be quite startling to see their position change to it being a finished product in the UK but not in the US.
There are plenty of published articles and interviews describing the RPi as a computer intended for children's bedrooms.
