Look out Raspberry Pi: CHIP is the world’s first $9 hackable computer

We here at Gearburn are avid Raspberry Pi and cheap, hackable, small computer stuff fans, so no wonder that the CHIP (or awkwardly dubbed the C.H.I.P) quickly popped up on our radars.

Currently running a Kickstarter campaign, the little device claims to be the world’s first US$9 computer, and yes, it can do a bit more than your age-old pocket calculator.

According to the product page, you can use it to play games, tap away at documents, and so on. But that’s all the boring stuff.

We all know that where the real fun lies is when it comes down to hacking the damn thing. The team behind this exciting projects, Next Thing Co., stresses that the CHIP is flexible enough for all kinds of experimentation:

Whether you’re building yourself a wall clock that counts down time to the next bus at your stop, or setting up a network of hundreds of solar-powered air quality sensors for use in disaster relief, you need the same basic tools to start from: a processor, a way to exchange data, and a way to power everything. With C.H.I.P., all the groundwork is laid, and the only question is what you’ll do next.

Read more: 20 awesome ways you can use a Raspberry Pi

Running Linux, the micro computer comes preinstalled with a couple of applications which means that you’ll be able to gift it to either your granddaughter or grandfather, they’ll figure it out. For instance, it comes preinstalled with Scratch to help you learn the innings of coding, LibreOffice to tap away at boring spreadsheets and Chrome to browse the web and do what you do best.

The CHIP comes with a 1Ghz and 512MB of DDR3 RAM. What’s even more dandy is that it comes with a fully integrated battery power circuit.

On that note, the PocketCHIP update fits the savvy device with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and a five hour battery.

It’s all so tiny.It’s only US$9 (Raspberry Pi’s go for US$35) which means you’ll have to fork out for the display, keyboard, mouse and what have you. So far, within its first two days, the Kickstarter project has raised US$124 000 which overshoots its goal of US$50 000.