[MrFoof]

I think comparing the Raspberry Pi to the original OLPC concepts is rather misguided. The OLPC is a computer that can be used immediately. It's turnkey. It has a display, and input devices, and comes in a case.

The Raspberry Pi reminds me more of the Heathkits my father used to buy, but we're talking more of the radio kits as opposed to the 25" television sets. It's a computer, yes, but it's not the entire puzzle -- it's just a piece. If you build a radio, you want more than just sound -- you want something to easily change the frequency, more usable controls, a case, and a power supply that's a bit more manageable. The OLPC gives you all of that as part of the kit (and in the case of the OLPC, preassembled), whereas with the Raspberry Pi you've got to piece together the rest of the system. There's nothing wrong with that, but it does limit its accessibility if you're trying to get kids to program. Sure, there's something to be learned buy gathering up all the components, but it's limited, as it's not much more than plugging in some cables with standardized connectors.

The Pi may have more horsepower, but it's basically just an engine. Don't get me wrong, it's a great idea, but there's quite a bit more involved so someone can really explore what the hardware is capable of when compared to the OLPC.

[wisty]

It might be a better platform to get kids to program. It's probably easy to get it connected to a big TV, and it's cheap enough to mess around with.

But you're right to say that the price comparison is pretty meaningless.

[richardburton]

Apples and oranges for-sure. However the bigger trend here is accessible, speedy computing for all. That is really exciting.