Raspberry Pi Zero - meet the $5 computer

Raspberry Pi Blog

For only $5, one can already own by a micro-computer — the Raspberry Pi Zero.

"Today, I'm pleased to be able to announce the immediate availability of Raspberry Pi Zero, made in Wales and priced at just $5," Raspberry Pi's blog post on Nov. 26 stated.

The Raspberry Pi Zero is a microcomputer with a 1GHz ARM11 processor, noted to be 40 percent faster compared to the first Pi computer. It also has a 512 MB RAM and a microSD card slot for internal storage expansion. A mini HDMI socket is also present and it allows the computer to project full HD video onto a TV screen.

Engadget noted that the Pi Zero may not be able to perform complicated tasks like most computers of today, but it can still run on Raspbian, a Linux operating system (OS) version made compatible with Raspberry Pi. Users can also run apps like Minecraft, Sonic Pi, and Scratch.

Over the years, Raspberry Pi has garnered the support of millions of people who want to try out basic programming, but are hindered by costs. By 2015, the company started working on a cheaper version of the minicomputer to help those people with their goals.

The blog post stated that there are already "several tens of thousands" of Pi Zeros built, but there are still more being developed.

Pi Zero is measured at 65 x 30 x 5 millimeters and is the smallest unit from the company. Five units of Pi Zero placed altogether sideways would be the size of a dollar bill, Quartz noted.

Pi Zero is now available in the United Kingdom and can be bought at The Pi Hut and Pimoroni, and in the United States at Adafruit. The minicomputer is also available in stores, at branches of Micro Center.

Also, there's also a much sweeter deal offered. Raspberry Pi is also giving away a free Pi Zero, which can be found attached to the cover of the Magpi magazine's December issue, which is already available in the United Kingdom.