Thanks for that Curaga. You seem to have summed up the Pi nicely.
it just so happens that my demands are pretty lame and i would be happy
with the media center and simple desktop usage really.
However, it is interesting to see people start to use this Pi with Arch Linux. I am
seeing many desktop apps just working fine. (media players, Gimp etc) The guy
also has Chrome OS working on Pi now.
As for games, Pi looks more than capable as can be seen from Quake demo's and i
imagine this will appeal in the school and college circles.
They also showed simple desktop tools like Torrent downloaders working on Pi...other such
tools were working without any problems...also VNC runs fine for operating the Pi from another machine.
I am interested to see VNC work where you can dial into cloud computers. Android devices already have apps to do cloud machine access. The Pi also seems capable of this.
You see, i feel people are ignoring how the Pi can be used to dial into a Cloud gui desktop machine. That machine could be ,lets say, a 2 ghz pentium 4 (ubuntu machine) for example. I think this aspect of the Pi has been overlooked given that cloud machines are now free from Amazon.
They have the analogue Pi sound working ...it's alpha but seems to (Alsa) work quite usefully..
For playing movies i am not sure which app the Pi is using...it's some-kind of very lightweight Mplayer or similar build. For playing back 1080p Blu ray movies off SD card
Really, from what i have seen of the Pi, it's a good piece of hardware for the money.
This does not include the educational software that they will be bundle with it and your 5 free Linux OS's which are ready now. (that list may grow to perhaps 10)
Finally i feel it's worth mentioning that as a media player the Pi seems a good buy. With the forthcoming free OPENelec Pi app, the Pi will be able to stream any HTTP movie link (.avi file) etc. Having checked around i could not find any other stores selling media players with HTTP streaming capability for under 50 dollars (but mostly $100 plus). (android TV boxes) Having said that, those TV boxes also double up as an android computer because they connect to the marketplace.
eventually when the forums and apps are all collected for the Pi, i think, in several senses, people will be getting a great device.
As for % per $ performance, it's up to the customer to know Pi's limitations...right.
Having said that, there are also some Pi advantages. Portable, Battery power and other things.
that is my 2 cents worth anyhow
Thanks
V.