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PC Distributors Feeling the Raspberry Pi Effect?
Courtesy of the Small Business Computer Consulting Blog
which can be found at blog.sphomerun.com
Where is the PC headed now?
PC distributors have already seen how tablet computing and cloud services have been changing
the game, putting powerful mobile and virtual computing resources in the hands of end-users.
(See Marketing Computer Services to Include BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).)
And as if that wasn’t enough to shake things up, how about a computer for just $35?
And one that is also powerful enough to run popular video games like "Quake 3" and (when
it arrives) Windows 8?
Smaller Than a Smartphone
Granted, the model in question, which is the Raspberry Pi Linux PC, is delivered as a single,
no-frills computer board.
End-users must provide some kind of housing as well as a minimum of Linux knowledge to
make it work for them.
The PC is the size of a credit card, with a CPU running at 700MHz and onboard RAM of
256MB. Further storage possibilities are available via a slot for an SD card, two USB ports for
external drives, and an Ethernet port for networking. An HDMI and an RCA output complete
the line-up.
Who Wants One?
The appeal of the Raspberry Pi will initially be to "enthusiasts and educators," according
to the manufacturer.
The online store where orders are placed also offers accessories such as cables, power supplies,
and SD cards. That still leaves users with the task of arranging for monitors, external
hard drives, keyboard, or any other unit that they need to access and use the PC’s computing
resources.
Current PC distributors for the Raspberry Pi are RS Components and Allied Electronics,
both brands of Electrocomponents plc, an electronics and maintenance products distributor in the
UK.
How do you see the impact of low-cost computing like this on your market? How might it change
the way you serve your customers today? Where do PC distributors fit in? Make your predictions
in the Comments section below!
And to follow-through on the ideas introduced in this short post, be sure to download your
free quick reference guide to the Top 6 Computer Distributors that Help Small Business VARs,
Network Integrators, MSPs, and PC Repair Businesses Cost-Effectively Deliver High-Margin, End-to-End
Solutions.
You can download a copy of this free special report while it's still available at
http://www.ComputerDistributorGuide.com
Thanks so much for stopping by and tuning in today to learn all about how the
PC Distributors Feeling the Raspberry Pi Effect?