Some people are prepared to go to great lengths to obtain one of the recently released Raspberry Pi 5 single-board computers (SBCs). Sad Electronics on Twitter / X, for example, got out of bed at 4 a.m. in Germany today, crossing land and sea to the UK to get their hands on a slice of fresh Pi.
New product introductions can be fraught with delays and shortages, and they can even bring out the worst in people (such as scalping). We reported earlier today on Raspberry Pi 5 scalpers and were startled to learn that some eBayers were marking up prices by up to 109%.
In addition to the normal challenges, the debut of the Raspberry Pi 5 is a very significant event in the computer industry. Smart devices, PC CPUs, and GPUs are frequently replaced on a yearly basis, but the Pi 4 has been on the market for four years.
According to the most recent information, well-organized pre-order single-unit clients around the world should have their beautiful new Pi 5 SBCs by the end of 2023, at the very latest. Next year, industrial clients will be able to purchase the Raspberry Pi 5, and production is ramping up to meet the high demand.
If you are an enthusiast looking for a single Raspberry Pi 5, the batched queue mechanisms should make it easy to obtain one. However, those who were unprepared for the Pi 5 stock shortage and are less patient may be seeking an alternative.
Going to a physical store is one other option available to users in the UK (right now) and the US (beginning Nov. 3). The Raspberry Pi Store in Cambridge is the only off-the-shelf stockist in the UK, and those in the US with a local Micro Center will be able to pick up a Pi 5 soon. Sad Electronics made the effort today to go from Germany to Cambridge, UK, knowing this.
The magnificent sight of the Raspberry Pi shop front in Cambridge can be seen in Sad Electronics’ post. The second image, we presume, is of a relieved Pi hunter holding an 8 GB Raspberry Pi 5 while waiting on the train/plane/ferry back to the continent. Surely there was another reason to visit Cambridge today, and the SBC shopping added to that? In any event, it’s encouraging to see the dedication that the modest Raspberry Pi can inspire.
