The revolutionary pocket-sized gizmo that turns any television into a PC for just £16



Raspberry Pi will offer office programmes and video for £16

Just need to add keyboard, television and mouse

Connects to internet via cable - and can connect to other gadgets via USB

First 10 'collectors' samples on eBay this week



Bidders are keen to own what might be a chapter of computing history - a tiny, ultra-cheap device that will offer desktop-style computing for £16 to anyone with a television

The first 10 samples of a new kind of ultra-cheap, tiny computer have hit eBay this week - and the collectors circuit boards of the cult Raspberry Pi computers are already standing at prices of over £2,000.



Bidders are keen to own what might be a chapter of computing history - a tiny, ultra-cheap device that will offer desktop-style computing for £16.



The finished article will look more like a finger-sized USB stick, and will plug into the back of any television to turn it into a PC.

You will need to bring your own television, keyboard, and mouse - but the £16 gizmo will then be able to do office programmes such as word processing, internet and even TV and video.

Its makers say, 'The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. It’s a capable little PC which can be used for many of the things your desktop PC does, like spreadsheets, word-processing and games.



'It also plays high-definition video. We want to see it being used by kids all over the world to learn programming.'

The early versions on eBay look very much like a school electronics kit - and resemble the first Apple I boards that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sold from Steve Jobs' garage in 1976.

The finished article will look more like a finger-sized USB stick, and will plug into the back of any television to turn it into a PC

The makers of the Pi hope that their creation will be just as revolutionary.

The computer is priced at £16, or £22 for a more powerful version.

The pocket-sized PC runs the Linux operating system Linux - a free alternative to Windows or Mac OS, which helps keep the price ultra-low.

The chips and connectors are as versatile as you could possibly get for the price, allowing users to connect cameras and other gadgets via USB, and powerful enough to deal with hi-def video and sound.

The computers have become a cult object among tech enthusiasts - hence the high eBay bids.



But the final Pi models are designed for schools and for poorer areas where people may have televisions but few computers.



The devices can connecct to the internet via an Ethernet cable - or via wi-fi using a USB wi-fi connector.



The makers say, 'We are absolutely amazed by the generosity of the people bidding on the beta boards.



Every penny from the auction goes straight to our charity, where it will fund the making of more Raspberry Pis to go into schools.'

