Manchester, Lancashire -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/04/2012 -- LJR Marketing first heard of the credit-card sized computer late last year and although it was primarily designed for educational institutions and hobbyists, recent reports now suggest the mini-computer’s popularity has boomed. According to SlashGear.com “Delivery on the first major batch of Raspberry Pi computers recently began and pre-orders have already reached 350,000 units [and] has generated a lot of interest since its initial 10,000 unit debut back in February, which sold out within minutes.”

LJR Marketing discovered the Raspberry Pi is a Linux system that connects to a TV or keyboard for word processing, gaming, and playing HD video and is the brainchild of Dr. Eben Upton, a Broadcom engineer and David Braben, a software engineer. According to Upton, the idea behind the Pi was to “bring back the days of true home computing” in which young children can learn to use education programming languages such as Logo and Scratch, which in turn will provide the world with the next generation of IT specialists. Lawrence Randall, Managing Director at LJR Marketing commented: “At such a low cost I can see a product like this being hugely popular in schools and colleges as the Raspberry Pi costs considerably less than most textbooks I used when I was at school.”

LJR Marketing specialise in Direct Sales and Marketing and MD Lawrence Randall admits there are very few other products currently on the market he would prefer to be working with over the Raspberry Pi. He explained: “From a marketing point of view the Raspberry Pi has everything. It’s a ‘wow’ product with great features, numerous educational and practical advantages and a low cost that will appeal to the masses.” Katherine Noyes of PCWorld believes the Raspberry Pi is a real revolution in computing. She explained: “What especially excites me about the Raspberry Pi is the way it will bring capable computing power into the hands of those who might not otherwise be able to afford it, including countless businesses and consumers in emerging markets.” LJR Marketing agree and believe that the shift in popularity from traditional methods of advertising to online and direct marketing means the Raspberry Pi can offer a cheap gateway for modern businesses in developing countries to reach mass markets.

The hype surrounding the launch of the Raspberry Pi has certainly helped it to become an instant success. What the creators will be hoping however is that the success is long-term and not just consumers buying the latest ‘must have’ gadget. Lawrence Randall, Managing Director at LJR Marketing believes the introduction of the Raspberry Pi is much more than this. He concluded: “I believe the Raspberry Pi is more than just a product, it is a gateway through which young people can learn more about the rapidly changing world in which we live and work.”