The humble Raspberry Pi has become the biggest selling UK computer, the Raspberry Pi Foundation

has announced.


The stripped-back microcomputer designed for education has now sold five million units in the three years since its inception. In an era in which computers in the traditional sense of the word have seen declining sales in a market diluted by mobile devices, the success of the tiny Pi is remarkable.

Pretty much as soon as the Raspberry Pi launched back in 2012 it shot off the production line, with customers keen to get their hands on them. Initially the computer was picked up by hackers and tinkerers who immediately saw the potential of the tiny and highly affordable computer.

Since then, however, the Pi has been fulfilling its original purpose after being adopted by educational institutions around the world, as well as used as the basis for other educational products, like Kano Kits. The Raspberry Foundation itself is heavily invested in education, with many multiple projects, initiatives and partnerships that help it engage youngsters with technology.

Following several rudimentary improvements to the Pi Model B, a second, more powerful version of the credit card-sized computer with enhanced connectivity was unveiled in July 2014. The Raspberry Pi 2 went on sale earlier this month for a mere $35 (£20) -- the same price as the existing Model B+.

With an ARMv7 processor, the Pi mark 2 will be capable of running the likes of Snappy Ubuntu Core and Microsoft Windows 10, when it becomes available. The Raspberry Pi-compatible version of Windows 10 will, in fact, be free of charge to makers. Whether the partnership between Raspberry Pi and Microsoft will result in yet another boost in sales when Windows 10 does officially launch is hard to say just yet. But it surely will not damage the upward trajectory that marks out the microcomputer's lifetime of success.