I think their aggressive price point is at odds with their mission.
The mission used to be "unit of computing for education and makers at a super low pricepoint". This feels more like "create the lowest pricepoint possible".
It's peculiar. I think the 'educational' mission of RPi flew the coop a long time ago when they found they were selling piles of Linux SBCs at or below a cost that was realistic. Now they're a COTS part used in industry. (Ever buy a $25,000 heat staking machine to discover that they used an Raspberry Pi as the primary control unit? I have.)
Arduino is now going through the same experience, they have a "pro" line where they're trying to compete with existing Linux SBCs in the industrial space like Phytec, Variscite, or Kontron. But they can't match on cost yet.
Comments
I think their aggressive price point is at odds with their mission.
The mission used to be "unit of computing for education and makers at a super low pricepoint". This feels more like "create the lowest pricepoint possible".
It's peculiar. I think the 'educational' mission of RPi flew the coop a long time ago when they found they were selling piles of Linux SBCs at or below a cost that was realistic. Now they're a COTS part used in industry. (Ever buy a $25,000 heat staking machine to discover that they used an Raspberry Pi as the primary control unit? I have.)
Arduino is now going through the same experience, they have a "pro" line where they're trying to compete with existing Linux SBCs in the industrial space like Phytec, Variscite, or Kontron. But they can't match on cost yet.