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by nyolfen 3156 days ago
> but we’ll be focusing on getting it working on a small, ARM-based computing device called a Raspberry Pi (RPi), which costs about $100.

?? do rpi's cost an absurd amount in australia or something?

5 comments

For people who don't have spare micro sd cards, spare usb cables, spare 1+Amp capable usb power supplies, and who're maybe less prepared to have a bare RasPi board powered up and running sitting on their table - $100AUD is about the right expectation to set, yeah.

(I've always got all of that, and I still get grumpy when people talk about the "$5 Pi Zero" - I've never been able to get a bare Pi Zero in my hand for anything less that about $13US which is close to $20AUD...)

I've come to the conclusion that unless you need space - one of those low end servers with the manufacturers rebate is usually a better buy for most people than a Pi (HP Gen8/10 Dell T20 etc).
For me - a Pi is mostly about battery powered portable projects, and GPIO.

If I don't need either of those, a 2nd hand office grade pc can usually be had for the same price as a Pi3 around here.

MicroCenter has been selling $5 Pi Zero Ws near me for about 2 months, check if there's a location near you
Almost everything in Australia has a pretty high markup. Mostly due to the high wages and generally to ship anything out here costs a lot without the economies of scale. Most just shrug and call it the "sunshine tax".

It is very annoying when companies like valve charge considerably more for digital goods though. For really expensive software like Photoshop it used to be cheaper to fly to the USA buy it and return home then buy locally.

>generally to ship anything out here costs a lot without the economies of scale.

I've been getting trinkets shipped here from AliExpress for nothing - I'm not sure it's economies of scale.

I don't know about Australia, but postage from China to the EU is generally heavily subsidized, due to an old effort to boost the region's export economy. It just hasn't ever been rolled back, but there are talks to do just that. Then shipping to the EU (and possibly other regions) will reflect the actual postage costs.
Same to the US. "E-post" from China to the United States is dirt cheap. Impossibly cheap. Very nice for things like electronics components.
Looks like they are recommending a RPi kit. Board alone from that AUS supplier is about $45 USD.
We do, the participants will need a full kit to operate the Pi-hole at home
An RPi 3 boards about $60AUD, but once you add a PSU, HDMI cable, microSD card and case you're looking at about $100 yeah. We pay outrageous prices for tech, there's even been a parliamentary enquiry into it. It's the price you pay for sunshine and nice beaches.
Having lived all over the world and choosing to live in Aus now, it's most definitely a price worth paying ️
100 aud are about 75 usd. Pick a rpi kit and maybe some accessories and you get the price.
Don't forget shipping :)