[paraplegic]

If the availability of the pi zero W is any indication I expect trouble ahead. Trying to buy the zero W in bulk through channels is practically impossible, and the vendors sell them only in kit bundles at many times MSRP at 10$.

[elfchief]

Instead of the pi zero, check out the CHIP Pro (https://getchip.com/pages/chippro) ... a little more expensive, but available in quantity and designed to be pick & placed (or hand-soldered!), runs linux, and does most of the things a pi can do (sans video)

[Tepix]

Stay away from CHIP, they appear to be bankrupt and/or fraudulent, they took my money and never delivered.

[mbu]

Fwiw I don't think it's even possible to order anything from them at the moment. I can't figure out how to (but also have heard other stories of late or non-delivery). Seems like a cool product until you realise it doesn't exist.

[b5]

They withdrew sales of the original C.H.I.P. months and months ago, without really explaining why. It's quite puzzling, because I ordered four in November 2015 and got them as promised about six months later. I guess maybe they made an initial batch, fulfilled that, then just ran out of steam and haven't made any more? It's disappointing to hear other people haven't received theirs.

[elfchief]

Huh, weird. I ordered some CHIP Pros and dev boards in February last year, and got them in ~2 weeks. I haven't ordered from them since, so maybe they went defunct or something. I dunno. That's too bad. :(

[Tepix]

I ordered 5 CHIP in Feb 2017 and never got anything. Estimated shipping was Q1 2017.

I sent several mails and got no reply.

The email address <[e-mail]> is now bouncing mails: "Recipient address rejected: User unknown".