It seems as if all of the UK is madly in love with this little board, and maybe the EU. I still love the Asian cousin... the Cubieboard. www.Cubieboard.org
We cannot possibly be looking at the same page.. the RPI page is even slow to scroll (something I have to do a lot of, on this low-vertical-resolution screen). Maybe it's not meant to be watched on a dual-core low-performance AMD netbook computer from the other side of the world. I really don't like that page. The cubieboard page has all the interesting links nicely lined up, no scrolling, a clean, fast interface. The RPI page is a mess.
Hm, to me the cubieboard web page looks vastly better than the RPI page, where you have to wade through the gimmics to find the interesting bits.
-Tor
User friendly is NOT a very reliable parameter. But some users do love to be chatted up with lots of buzz.
The Cubieboard simply has more resources (like more RAM) than the original Raspberry Pi and a bit more complete as a compact platform design.
The Cubieboard is quite good in Android or Ubuntu, once you work through getting the loader installed. (I could even help with that on Cubieboard2. Yes I would be willing to.).
I must say everything seems to work faster and better in Andriod. I suspect the optimized video code is NOT open source.
Right now, I am trying to purchase a Cubiescreen for my Cubieboard2 -- a 3.5" touch screen. That will eliminate the problem with 2.0mm headers AND provide a complete video and input package.
But the products have marched up to Cubieboard4 with sound innovations.
you need to compare the www.cubieboard.org , not the docs.cubieboard.org to the raspberrypi.com site.
Horrid...
I do admit that the site is rather sparce compared to Raspberry Pi. Why so? Well, it is an English language site put out by some fellows in Hong Kong. My guess is that English is not their strong suit. But they do build something of value.
That is a stunningly huge lot of Pi. Especially as originally they only expected to ever make a few thousand.
The Cubieboard is interesting. I quite like the idea of a little ARM board with SATA like one of the Cubies has.
Of course technical details are not everything. I'm sure many people's applications could be achieved with many different boards. When you buy a Pi you are buying into the huge community and the mass of support available. Similar considerations are in play with the Propeller and many other products.
I'm not a big fan of that Raspberry Pi home page either. But then it's designed to be attractive to children not corporate customers. That front page is slow but even my ancient Android phone over here in Scandinavia can present it in not too much time.
The first affordable 64 bit ARM board. 8 cores, 1.2GHz, ARM Mali 450-MP4 GPU, 1GB DRAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, camera ports, the works! And only 130 odd dollars.
It's built to the 96Boards specification from Linaro. It seems there are another 10 or so companies building boards, with their own different SoCs, to the 96Boards spec this year.
If Linaro's plans come to fruition such boards will be approaching Raspi prices quite soon.
Just an observation and comment here. Due to moving my office and workbench and weather conditions (-4 F and snow) I have been forced to use the Raspi for the last couple weeks for my main pc. It works fine all but slow, very slow. Not the new version Pi but older one. Must say it works and I am starting to get used to linux. Only real complaints ab out the Pi is speed and too much typing envolved in command line for my one good arm!!
The RasPi2 is much quicker and much more useable as a desktop - worth investing another $35 in my mind. Unless I really need to replace a laptop, I can easily see any desktops that die around my house being replaced by RasPi (or other) single board computers running Linux.
This afternoon, I hope to try running a RasPi 2 using a USB hard disk as the home for everything. It still boots from the SD but the filesystems are all on the USB drive. It's supposed to be much faster and give a longer lifetime and better reliability for your filesystems than an SD card.
I thought it was interesting on the Raspberry Pi site where they have the picture of the pallet containing the very first 2000 Raspberry Pis with the statement that now, each of those have spawned 2500 additional RasPi's - that's an impressive number. Picture 2500 pallets like that in a warehouse!
MCM in Ohio! http://www.mcmelectronics.com/ They currently show "in stock" on their web site. Unfortunately, you need to spend $200 to get free shipping, sadly, I usually end up with free shipping.
I ordered the morning of the day they were announced but didn't make the first shipment. The second batch was on its way and I got mine on 2/12, I believe.
I went ahead and ordered one today. Thanks for the link. I'm not in a hurry.
The early model was just not quite enough for me. But this one, with the improvements is very likely to be useful.
As for having to wonder, really?
It's a no brainer. What you get is a reasonable little computer that can act as a dev station and or dev board, or head for something else. It's cheap, there is a lot of info out there, runs Linux, etc...
There are more powerful things out there. Always is.
And it's not really about that as much as it is the other related things. Being aimed at kids, accessible, and inexpensive will trump more capability in nearly all cases.
That has been true for a very long time.
I like the idea of a USB disk being added. Boot from SD, then go. Or multi-boot. Have a SD only config, and one for the external disk. I've got a small SSD I'm not using. Bet that will move along nicely, and no moving parts.
What I need is a little dev station I can just setup with a specific stack of stuff, then forget about it and just use it to complete a project or few. I like that I can use it stand alone, or headless with an X server running on something else. So, when in the work area, use it headless and no worries. When out in the field, or in testing, use it native in a pinch. Perfect.
What's the state of Android these days? Can you put that on a Pi? Just wondering.
I'm very seriously impressed with the Samsung Note 4 Phone I got. The thing is an 8 core device, does multi-window, etc... and it's fast! Fast enough. Little ARM computers are just right there in the sweet spot for a lot of things. Not too fast, cheap, low power, etc... At some point, I wouldn't mind running Android, but for now I'll do Linux. I know that much better.
I did setup the phone with bluetooth peripherials and a Chromecast to mirror it's insane high resolution display to an HDTV. It's a capable workstation. The next Android revision or two is going to bring all that out and I believe compete much better with Linux. Samsung is ahead a little on this phone with some of their own window management tweaks. It's a nice taste of what Android will likely become. I like what I see.
But for now, this little board running Linux is going to get a lot done, and be portable. I need that. I'll just add an X server to several machines I use and be all set.
No Android for the Pi I'm afraid. In fact I just noticed that the entire sub-forum on the Raspi site, where guys trying to get Android working were discussing progress, has been locked. No idea why.
But it's a bastardized variant. Probably some tech holy war or other associated with all that.
Somebody will do it, and that's fine. When it gets done, it gets done. I'm in no hurry, but I do want to eventually run the OS. There is a lot about Android that I like.
Why the success of RPi over some other similar products?
I can only speak for myself, but the first reason was the outstanding video display. The second was the outstanding nature of Raspbian and the PLETHORA of great applications available with it.
Could I have done the same things with BeagleBoneBlack? I still don't know. The limited time I spent with it wasn't particularly happy or productive. Too many unanswered questions. Too few results for the time spent.
Remember also there were no similar products when the Pi was launched. Not at that price. In fact I'm not sure there is even now. So the Pi got a massive head start.
OK, I found time to set up my Raspi 2 to use a 1TB Seagate USB drive as its root filesystem.
I haven't proven it to be any faster yet, I'll need to build something on both configurations to test that. Unscientific timings: reboot to desktop for 64GB SD card is 40.31 seconds; reboot to desktop for 1TB USB drive is 56.61 seconds - neither of these are overclocked. Of course, the 1TB version does need to run fsck and any other disk checking or mounting on a 1TB drive versus a 64GB drive. (It seems quicker to me in general use!)
FYI, I don't think there is going to be much difference seen between HD, SD, SSD access time or throughput.
IIRC, earlier this week someone did a test SD vs SSD, and no real difference. I believe both were showing an average of 10MB throughput.
I'm was very happy to see the Pi2, as I've been trying to decide on the Pi vs BBB. I really wanted to just go with the BBB because of the speed advantage and the additional 2x PRU's, however the OS-side of things seems to be far less polished and varied than the RPi scene. Although Yocto I believe is forming an up and coming standard...
So, now I'm seriously wondering if the new X-15 might not be the smarter long-term bet, as while it is only dual core, and not quite as powerful as Armv7, the 1.5Ghz should make that less of a problem, as will the eSATA, 2 Gb enet and USB3. The quad PRU should be nice also.
Since its supposed to release Feb (Mar ?), even at $75-100 it seems like it would be a better option for a 24x7 type of base station I am looking for. I guess depending upon OS quality.
But then, I guess in reality the smart thing is just to plump for the $35 starter RPi 2 now, and move up only if necessary.
Full circle, back to the RPi 2 now. I really appreciate everyone's help making up my mind here
PS... But then, the BBB2 is supposed to be upping their Arm core, so.....
MCM in Ohio! http://www.mcmelectronics.com/ They currently show "in stock" on their web site. Unfortunately, you need to spend $200 to get free shipping, sadly, I usually end up with free shipping.
I finally broke down and ordered a RasPi2 from MCM. Flat rate $6 shipping thru Sunday, but no other discounts apply to RasPi2 due to "manufacturer agreements".
So I'll love this and Linux so much that soon I'll be throwing my Win8 desktop in the trash?
I finally broke down and ordered a RasPi2 from MCM. Flat rate $6 shipping thru Sunday, but no other discounts apply to RasPi2 due to "manufacturer agreements".
So I'll love this and Linux so much that soon I'll be throwing my Win8 desktop in the trash?
It's not like women, you don't have to pick one and that's it, you can embrace them all and enjoy each for it's own beauty. (Without getting in BIG trouble!)
erco said "So I'll love this and Linux so much that soon I'll be throwing my Win8 desktop in the trash?"
I kept my Win8 machines and updated them all to Win10. All working fine, and there was this idea a few weeks back that Win10 would be able to run on the Pi. That would be a very interesting fusion - could then run vb.net and C# on a Pi. Donning flame proof suit now...
Leon
Posts: 7,620
Comments
It seems as if all of the UK is madly in love with this little board, and maybe the EU. I still love the Asian cousin... the Cubieboard.
www.Cubieboard.org
https://www.newit.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=common/home
One reason why the RPi is so popular compared with the Cubieboard is that it appears to be much more "user friendly": just compare the two web sites:
http://docs.cubieboard.org/
http://www.raspberrypi.org/
Another is that it is supplied by two of the biggest electronic distributors in the world: Premier Farnell and Allied RS.
-Tor
-Tor
Horrid...
User friendly is NOT a very reliable parameter. But some users do love to be chatted up with lots of buzz.
The Cubieboard simply has more resources (like more RAM) than the original Raspberry Pi and a bit more complete as a compact platform design.
The Cubieboard is quite good in Android or Ubuntu, once you work through getting the loader installed. (I could even help with that on Cubieboard2. Yes I would be willing to.).
I must say everything seems to work faster and better in Andriod. I suspect the optimized video code is NOT open source.
Right now, I am trying to purchase a Cubiescreen for my Cubieboard2 -- a 3.5" touch screen. That will eliminate the problem with 2.0mm headers AND provide a complete video and input package.
But the products have marched up to Cubieboard4 with sound innovations.
I do admit that the site is rather sparce compared to Raspberry Pi. Why so? Well, it is an English language site put out by some fellows in Hong Kong. My guess is that English is not their strong suit. But they do build something of value.
The Cubieboard is interesting. I quite like the idea of a little ARM board with SATA like one of the Cubies has.
Of course technical details are not everything. I'm sure many people's applications could be achieved with many different boards. When you buy a Pi you are buying into the huge community and the mass of support available. Similar considerations are in play with the Propeller and many other products.
I'm not a big fan of that Raspberry Pi home page either. But then it's designed to be attractive to children not corporate customers. That front page is slow but even my ancient Android phone over here in Scandinavia can present it in not too much time.
For those wanting something more industrial this might be interesting: The HiKey board https://www.96boards.org/products/hikey/
The first affordable 64 bit ARM board. 8 cores, 1.2GHz, ARM Mali 450-MP4 GPU, 1GB DRAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, camera ports, the works! And only 130 odd dollars.
It's built to the 96Boards specification from Linaro. It seems there are another 10 or so companies building boards, with their own different SoCs, to the 96Boards spec this year.
If Linaro's plans come to fruition such boards will be approaching Raspi prices quite soon.
http://beagleboard.org/
I've got one, but there have been availability problems for some time.
It's a neat little board with lots of I/O, and quite a few add-on boards (called Capes):
http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBone_Capes
Just an observation and comment here. Due to moving my office and workbench and weather conditions (-4 F and snow) I have been forced to use the Raspi for the last couple weeks for my main pc. It works fine all but slow, very slow. Not the new version Pi but older one. Must say it works and I am starting to get used to linux. Only real complaints ab out the Pi is speed and too much typing envolved in command line for my one good arm!!
I know dont judge Linux by the pi.....
The RasPi2 is much quicker and much more useable as a desktop - worth investing another $35 in my mind. Unless I really need to replace a laptop, I can easily see any desktops that die around my house being replaced by RasPi (or other) single board computers running Linux.
This afternoon, I hope to try running a RasPi 2 using a USB hard disk as the home for everything. It still boots from the SD but the filesystems are all on the USB drive. It's supposed to be much faster and give a longer lifetime and better reliability for your filesystems than an SD card.
I thought it was interesting on the Raspberry Pi site where they have the picture of the pallet containing the very first 2000 Raspberry Pis with the statement that now, each of those have spawned 2500 additional RasPi's - that's an impressive number. Picture 2500 pallets like that in a warehouse!
I ordered the morning of the day they were announced but didn't make the first shipment. The second batch was on its way and I got mine on 2/12, I believe.
The early model was just not quite enough for me. But this one, with the improvements is very likely to be useful.
As for having to wonder, really?
It's a no brainer. What you get is a reasonable little computer that can act as a dev station and or dev board, or head for something else. It's cheap, there is a lot of info out there, runs Linux, etc...
There are more powerful things out there. Always is.
And it's not really about that as much as it is the other related things. Being aimed at kids, accessible, and inexpensive will trump more capability in nearly all cases.
That has been true for a very long time.
I like the idea of a USB disk being added. Boot from SD, then go. Or multi-boot. Have a SD only config, and one for the external disk. I've got a small SSD I'm not using. Bet that will move along nicely, and no moving parts.
What I need is a little dev station I can just setup with a specific stack of stuff, then forget about it and just use it to complete a project or few. I like that I can use it stand alone, or headless with an X server running on something else. So, when in the work area, use it headless and no worries. When out in the field, or in testing, use it native in a pinch. Perfect.
What's the state of Android these days? Can you put that on a Pi? Just wondering.
I'm very seriously impressed with the Samsung Note 4 Phone I got. The thing is an 8 core device, does multi-window, etc... and it's fast! Fast enough. Little ARM computers are just right there in the sweet spot for a lot of things. Not too fast, cheap, low power, etc... At some point, I wouldn't mind running Android, but for now I'll do Linux. I know that much better.
I did setup the phone with bluetooth peripherials and a Chromecast to mirror it's insane high resolution display to an HDTV. It's a capable workstation. The next Android revision or two is going to bring all that out and I believe compete much better with Linux. Samsung is ahead a little on this phone with some of their own window management tweaks. It's a nice taste of what Android will likely become. I like what I see.
But for now, this little board running Linux is going to get a lot done, and be portable. I need that. I'll just add an X server to several machines I use and be all set.
Wait a minute, Android is Linux!
But it's a bastardized variant. Probably some tech holy war or other associated with all that.
Somebody will do it, and that's fine. When it gets done, it gets done. I'm in no hurry, but I do want to eventually run the OS. There is a lot about Android that I like.
I can only speak for myself, but the first reason was the outstanding video display. The second was the outstanding nature of Raspbian and the PLETHORA of great applications available with it.
Could I have done the same things with BeagleBoneBlack? I still don't know. The limited time I spent with it wasn't particularly happy or productive. Too many unanswered questions. Too few results for the time spent.
As Leon and others have mentioned there is also the There is also the BeagleBone Black which I also use : http://beagleboard.org/
So, the question is " How does BeagleBone Black compare to Raspberry Pi 2 " ?
And the answer is here:
Ans: http://beagleboard.org/blog/2015-02-05-raspberry-pi-2/
Remember also there were no similar products when the Pi was launched. Not at that price. In fact I'm not sure there is even now. So the Pi got a massive head start.
I haven't proven it to be any faster yet, I'll need to build something on both configurations to test that. Unscientific timings: reboot to desktop for 64GB SD card is 40.31 seconds; reboot to desktop for 1TB USB drive is 56.61 seconds - neither of these are overclocked. Of course, the 1TB version does need to run fsck and any other disk checking or mounting on a 1TB drive versus a 64GB drive. (It seems quicker to me in general use!)
This is the FUN part:
A little 4 core computer smaller than the USB drive with a 917GB rootfs is pretty cool!! What will I ever do with all that space on a workstation?????
If anyone wants to play along at home, I followed these instructions for setting it up to use the USB drive for rootfs:
http://www.raspipress.com/2013/05/install-and-run-raspbian-from-a-usb-flash-drive/
and since my BIG USB drive needed a bit more current from the USB port, I used this trick to provide more current on the USB interfaces:
https://projects.drogon.net/testing-setting-the-usb-current-limiter-on-the-raspberry-pi-b/[/usb]
Time to go build nodejs or something to see if the USB drive is quicker in actual use. Maybe a bit of overclocking too!
EDIT: It looks like we're down to doing this for reliability and LOTS of space in your root file system.
Timings for building nodejs:
USB Drive w/ WIfi: 1:13:00
SD Card w/ Ethernet: 1:11:03
USB Drive w/ Ethernet: 1:10:57
The Pi's should have been identical except for the location of their file systems. Both Pi's are overclocked with the Pi2 settings. The PI with the USB drive had 64M set aside for graphics memory but there wasn't any memory pressure during the build, so I doubt that memory would have made a difference.
Not a significant difference on a build that runs an hour.
IIRC, earlier this week someone did a test SD vs SSD, and no real difference. I believe both were showing an average of 10MB throughput.
I'm was very happy to see the Pi2, as I've been trying to decide on the Pi vs BBB. I really wanted to just go with the BBB because of the speed advantage and the additional 2x PRU's, however the OS-side of things seems to be far less polished and varied than the RPi scene. Although Yocto I believe is forming an up and coming standard...
I say was, because I just came across this http://linuxgizmos.com/beagleboard-x15-features-dual-core-cortex-a15-sitara/
So, now I'm seriously wondering if the new X-15 might not be the smarter long-term bet, as while it is only dual core, and not quite as powerful as Armv7, the 1.5Ghz should make that less of a problem, as will the eSATA, 2 Gb enet and USB3. The quad PRU should be nice also.
Since its supposed to release Feb (Mar ?), even at $75-100 it seems like it would be a better option for a 24x7 type of base station I am looking for. I guess depending upon OS quality.
But then, I guess in reality the smart thing is just to plump for the $35 starter RPi 2 now, and move up only if necessary.
Full circle, back to the RPi 2 now. I really appreciate everyone's help making up my mind here
PS... But then, the BBB2 is supposed to be upping their Arm core, so.....
I recall the detractors saying an SOC computer for $35 will never work, and the RPi is a flash in the pan and will never catch on.
I finally broke down and ordered a RasPi2 from MCM. Flat rate $6 shipping thru Sunday, but no other discounts apply to RasPi2 due to "manufacturer agreements".
So I'll love this and Linux so much that soon I'll be throwing my Win8 desktop in the trash?
It's not like women, you don't have to pick one and that's it, you can embrace them all and enjoy each for it's own beauty. (Without getting in BIG trouble!)
I kept my Win8 machines and updated them all to Win10. All working fine, and there was this idea a few weeks back that Win10 would be able to run on the Pi. That would be a very interesting fusion - could then run vb.net and C# on a Pi. Donning flame proof suit now...
http://dev.windows.com/en-us/featured/raspberrypi2support
Dr_Ac, did you lose any hardware compatability when you transitioned to Win10? That's still a beta version, yes? Any obvious advantages over Win8?
You will get your start button back