Have a question about the Next-Gen BeagleBone? Ask it here!

We are looking at replace 8-10 old XP machines. We purchased a Raspberry Pi to try but it doesn't stream video very well at all. I was recommended by a friend that the Arduino would work better for us but I was just recommended BeagleBone Black. We will basically be using them online using Google Docs, YouTube and other educational sites. It would also be nice if they had VGA output as that is the equipment we have. Do you know of a single board computer solution that is reasonably priced that would work for us?

Pi streams video well in my experience with RaspBMC (XBMC Media Center).  Download NOOBS to try it out: http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads

The BeagleBone Black provides a much faster web browser experience I have found.  This is because it has a newer generation ARM processor (e.g. CPU) than the Pi.  It would probably be the best bet since Google Docs is pretty CPU intensive I'd imagine (lots of javascript).  You could also run Android on the Bone and use the Android version of the Google programs.

I don't believe either the Bone or Pi will play YouTube in the browser.  XBMC with YouTube add-on installed is the best route I believe.

Neither have VGA and a HDMI -> VGA converter isn't cheap compared to the price of these boars.  I'd recommend looking at the Olimex OLinuXino A13 which has VGA:

https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/

I believe Farnell should be getting in the future:

http://uk.farnell.com/olimex/a13-olinuxino-micro/a13-cortex-a8-olinuxino-micro-sbc/dp/2308267

And Newark would then have it via direct ship:

http://www.newark.com/olimex/a13-olinuxino/a13-cortex-a8-olinuxino-linux-sbc/dp/69W8086

cheers,

drew

Pi streams video well in my experience with RaspBMC (XBMC Media Center).  Download NOOBS to try it out: http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads

The BeagleBone Black provides a much faster web browser experience I have found.  This is because it has a newer generation ARM processor (e.g. CPU) than the Pi.  It would probably be the best bet since Google Docs is pretty CPU intensive I'd imagine (lots of javascript).  You could also run Android on the Bone and use the Android version of the Google programs.

I don't believe either the Bone or Pi will play YouTube in the browser.  XBMC with YouTube add-on installed is the best route I believe.

Neither have VGA and a HDMI -> VGA converter isn't cheap compared to the price of these boars.  I'd recommend looking at the Olimex OLinuXino A13 which has VGA:

https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/

I believe Farnell should be getting in the future:

http://uk.farnell.com/olimex/a13-olinuxino-micro/a13-cortex-a8-olinuxino-micro-sbc/dp/2308267

And Newark would then have it via direct ship:

http://www.newark.com/olimex/a13-olinuxino/a13-cortex-a8-olinuxino-linux-sbc/dp/69W8086

cheers,

drew

Don't forget that on the BBB the ethernet controller is integrated in the AM3359 when on the Rpi is an external controller combo USB switch that shares a single USB interface out of the BCM with a not extermely functional pseudo USB host intertace.

-J