The board SoC quality is very good. However, it can not compete with e.g. the CHIP SoC board [1], which costs just 9 USD + shipping with similar specs (I have two CHIP running 24/7 without any additional cooling, running rock solid -even in summer, at 35-40º C indoor-).
The only thing that would make me consider buying the BeagleBone Black Wireless is the two built-in microcontrollers ("PRU" processors [2]), for real-time I/O usage.
Can it be that those prices are imaginary until there's stock? It seems like a nice board (I have a old BBB, with ethernet, and it's solid), but the CHIP [1] gets you wifi and BT for $9...
Used beaglebone since it's out years ago, it's a great piece of hardware and kind of kicked off the open-source-software plus open source 32-bit-CPU DIY hardware movement before everybody else.
Then clone was up everywhere, from RPI to Intel to many small shops in China etc, even Arduino started to add 32-bit CPU boards, price has remained to be low so far.
The only concern is that TI is not as active as before on its ARM-chip business, otherwise Beaglebones could have dominated the market instead of RPI series.
Interesting that Texas Instruments Raspberry (you know, TI is to BeagleBoard as Broadcom is to RPi) would use a 3rd party SoC. I guess it still uses a AM335x internally so it's a tossup for them.
Would have wished they had updated the AM335x to one of the beefier Sitaras, they are falling somewhat behind if only in clock rate.
it's not really a new SoC ... it's an AM335x die (the real SoC) packaged along with dram, the TI power controller chip along with all the decoupling caps ... what this means is that you can get away with a 4-layer board with components on just one side for a lot of applications and build it at home in a reflow oven
The BeagleBone was great when it first came out. Then the Raspberry Pi came out, and has a bigger community, higher performance, and lower price. Compared to the RPi 3, the BBBW seems like ... too little, too late?
The BeagleBone does power management which the RPI doesn't. It's unfortunate that they didn't take this revision opportunity to boost the RAM and switch to USB3. IMHO.
I guess it depends on what you are using them for. If I want a smartphone, yeah use the RPi, if you need something that can do reliable precise timing, no amount of extra ARM cores can replace the PRUs in the BB.
Not at all. IME, they tend to be more reliable and used in real world products. The Rpi (as much as I love it) is focused more at the hobby market. You can use the BB boards on professional settings as off the shelf hardware.
They have different features. RPi still doesn't have any support for analog. The BeagleBone has had an ADC since the beginning. If you are using them for anything more than a basic computer these little things matter.
seriously? (seriously seriously)? It depends on if you're okay with the chinese having a backdoor, at the firmware level. (to the tune of '//gotroot!!' in the source code, and dropping to root.)
if you're okay with it, you have a LOT more options than if you aren't. perhaps if we start having dedicated routers and networks for the backdoored insecure stuff they'll start realizing that at the end of the day they're being pretty fucking obvious.
no comment on other governments stuff. if they're there, at least they aren't obvious.
How is the software support for BeagleBone boards? Can I expect to get automatic kernel updates with security patches?
Traditionally a problem with many boards is that you have to choose between running a distro kernel with incomplete hardware support but timely security updates, and running a board specific kernel that can't be safely exposed to internet-connected environment.
I had a student try to do an independent study research project using the BBB a couple of years ago. The experience wasn't good. We had a lot of trouble getting the thing to run with anything except the one kernel version that it came with. Porting over features from kernel modules done on earlier minor versions was a huge pain and not at all straightforward.
This is the perfect example of true Open Source Hardware. None of the other boards similarly spec'd development boards have been spinned into so many variants. Not to mention real world consumer products that are based off the Beaglebone Black schematic.
As a side note, "DDR3 8Gb 512M*16 1600 MHZ" is now on DRAMeXchange (you have to login to see it). It is hovering around five dollars per chip. I think the BeagleBone Black is one of the embedded systems where it is commonly used.
anyone know of any good resources, tutorials, books, etc. for putting the PRUs to good use? those seem to be the defining feature that separates the BBB from the other SBCs.
I can recommend "Exploring BeagleBone" by Derek Malloy which offers a very gentle introduction to the PRU with some mildly advanced examples.
Also, a shameless plug with more PRU code examples in case you are interested to use Rust rather than C for the glue code:
https://github.com/sbarral/prusst
I've been running a tor relay on the original beaglebone black for a couple years now and have been very satisfied. Would have LOVED the wifi model back then.
I like to see this stuff (seems like they should have had this earlier) but to me the real market shifting is less about performance and much more about preformance/watt and unit pricing. If you can push the boundaries on those two areas and still make it easy to hack then I think you have something that could push innovation to a new level. Still it is great to see this!
[+] [-] mintplant|9 years ago|reply
There are hardware design source files on https://github.com/beagleboard/beaglebone-black-wireless, including a PDF schematic: https://github.com/beagleboard/beaglebone-black-wireless/raw... which features a Texas Instruments WL1835MODGBMOCT WiFi/Bluetooth module: https://store.ti.com/WL1835MODGBMOCT.aspx
[+] [-] faragon|9 years ago|reply
The only thing that would make me consider buying the BeagleBone Black Wireless is the two built-in microcontrollers ("PRU" processors [2]), for real-time I/O usage.
[1] https://getchip.com/
[2] http://beagleboard.org/pru
P.S. I'm not related to CHIP product, just a happy user :-)
[+] [-] blacksmith_tb|9 years ago|reply
1: https://getchip.com/pages/chip
[+] [-] ers35|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ausjke|9 years ago|reply
Then clone was up everywhere, from RPI to Intel to many small shops in China etc, even Arduino started to add 32-bit CPU boards, price has remained to be low so far.
The only concern is that TI is not as active as before on its ARM-chip business, otherwise Beaglebones could have dominated the market instead of RPI series.
[+] [-] joezydeco|9 years ago|reply
And TI was probably smart to exit OMAP for phones/tablets when they did. It's too hard to beat Apple/Samsung/Qualcomm in this space now.
(The Sitara/AM335x on Beagle is just an OMAP without the video DSP)
[+] [-] revelation|9 years ago|reply
Would have wished they had updated the AM335x to one of the beefier Sitaras, they are falling somewhat behind if only in clock rate.
[+] [-] Taniwha|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jmgrosen|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jwatte|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dublinben|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] CocoaGeek|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] revelation|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] blackguardx|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] asimuvPR|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Gibbon1|9 years ago|reply
Edit: A warning about the TPS65217C on the BBB. The power supply needs to come up in (I think 50ms) or it'll fail to boot.
[+] [-] bsder|9 years ago|reply
Lower price. And that's what drove almost everything.
The RPI very much does NOT have higher performance.
Simple things like "How fast can I toggle that pin?" can make you think so because the RPi's are "closer to the metal".
[+] [-] snarfy|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rdtsc|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pasbesoin|9 years ago|reply
I'm wondering what might be recommended choices at this point for someone looking for an inexpensive, wired MITM / Firewall platform.
P.S. It would be great if it also had decent on-board wireless for e.g. making a portable hardware firewall device.
[+] [-] gaadd33|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pwython|9 years ago|reply
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php
[+] [-] logicallee|9 years ago|reply
if you're okay with it, you have a LOT more options than if you aren't. perhaps if we start having dedicated routers and networks for the backdoored insecure stuff they'll start realizing that at the end of the day they're being pretty fucking obvious.
no comment on other governments stuff. if they're there, at least they aren't obvious.
[+] [-] fulafel|9 years ago|reply
Traditionally a problem with many boards is that you have to choose between running a distro kernel with incomplete hardware support but timely security updates, and running a board specific kernel that can't be safely exposed to internet-connected environment.
[+] [-] cvwright|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] anujdeshpande|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] yuhong|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dbcurtis|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kersny|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cryptolect|9 years ago|reply
It looks like the Green wireless has more USB ports, but aside from that, I'm not sure why you'd choose the BBB Wireless vs BBG Wireless?
[+] [-] programmer_man|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stryk|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] binarycoffee|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bschwindHN|9 years ago|reply
http://www.righto.com/2016/08/pru-tips-understanding-beagleb...
[+] [-] akanet|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] compuguy|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stephenmm|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] adityapatadia|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] runeks|9 years ago|reply
Are dual 5/2 GHz chips that much more expensive?
[+] [-] johnchristopher|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mosselman|9 years ago|reply
[+] [-] monomyth|9 years ago|reply