You can buy a pretty powerful full computer (networking, video, RAM, etc) that fits on a tiny card for $35. That makes it possible to build all sorts of fun things on next to zero budget - everything from robots to video game emulation systems and tv streaming boxes.
The previous 3 versions were already wildly popular, but there were starting to show their age and to be significantly outperformed by Nvidia's Jetson Nano. But the Jetson Nano is significantly more expensive (starting at $99). This fixes several of the performance issues people had and keeps the price at the original $35.
I always feel like I'm missing something. I don't have a single idea where something like this could be useful. Maybe because I don't care about "fun" projects and live a quit minimalistic live style? I must don't have (small) problems with no solutions. Then again, I've also never had an idea for an interesting software side project.
Another way to think about this is that it's the antidote to seamless portless iGlass slabs for $1000. You've got compute, a pile of mainstream ports and wireless interfaces, GPIO pins and an established ecosystem, all for basically no money. It's an open enough platform that kids, adults, startups, schools, and companies have found endless uses for them, ranging from toy projects for learning purposes to production use in for-profit settings. It's a radically different vision of computing vs. the iStore, and one that deeply appeals to all the hackers and makers out there. It's not a product as much as it's a raw material.
My comment wasn't meant to criticise, just open self reflection. Even reading about some of those projects, I still don't get it and wonder why. What makes some people see this tool and get all excited about the possibilities, while others like me can only shrug their shoulders? As said before, I think I'm missing something, something great I like to have but just don't.
Honestly most raspberry pis are just gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. Unless you want to program on ARM there is no really compelling reason for an average developer to have one. If you have a specific use case, then you already know why you need one.
I have no actual data, but I would be willing to bet that a large percentage sold are used to build multi-video-game emulators or video streaming boxes instead of actual hacker projects. Both uses have premade software images and are nearly plug and play and give you a lot more options than commercial offerings like an Apple TV or Nintendo Classic.
The previous 3 versions were already wildly popular, but there were starting to show their age and to be significantly outperformed by Nvidia's Jetson Nano. But the Jetson Nano is significantly more expensive (starting at $99). This fixes several of the performance issues people had and keeps the price at the original $35.