Ten million Raspberry Pis sold, official kit coming

If there were still any doubt, even among its creators, that the Raspberry Pi was, and still is, a phenomenal success, then let the numbers speak for themselves. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has just proudly announced that the little single board computer (SBC) that could have reached another epic milestone: 10 million boards shipped. Considering they only ever envisioned shipping 10,000 such Pis back in 2012, that is in no way a small accomplishment. And like a never-ending story, things are just about to get better.

Taking even founder Eben Upton by surprise, the Raspberry Pi exploded into the tech market, especially the maker scene, without warning. Originally intended to be a low-cost barebones computer for teaching kids, the RPi attracted grownups and even tech giants like Google and Microsoft, giving birth to all sorts of wonderful, strange, and sometimes even shady projects and contraptions.

10 million is definitely no small number, but it's not that surprising considering how insanely affordable the RPi has remained for years. On its official stores, it hasn't gone beyond the $35 for a board only. Of course, to make it work, you'll need more than just the board, especially if you want to make it presentable.

For quite some time, the foundation has tried to avoid creating and selling its own "blessed" accessories, giving others the honors. The times, however, are changing, and some need more than just a board to get started. June last year, RPi got its first ever official case. To celebrate this 10 millionth sale, it is getting a whole kit.

Still keeping true to the principle of simplicity, the new Raspberry Pi Kit comes in a minimalist box, with all white accessories (which is probably ironic considering how dirty it will immediately become), that includes an RPi 3, the official case, an 8 GB SD card with NOOBS already installed, a 2.5A power supply, an optical mouse and keyboard, and a copy of Adventures in Raspberry Pi. All for a starting price of 99 GBP ($132).

Of course, the kit won't replace the more affordable board. It'll just be an option for those who want to jump into the RPi immediately, without having to fumble around or look for the necessary parts. The kit is already available for purchase in the UK, from element14 and RS Components and will soon spread to the rest of the world.

SOURCE: Raspberry Pi Foundation