Why Techies are Shifting from BeagleBone Black to Raspberry Pi?

Why Techies are Shifting from BeagleBone Black to Raspberry Pi?

Summary

Discover the intriguing shift in the tech world from BeagleBone Black to Raspberry Pi in our blog, "Why Techies are Shifting from BeagleBone Black to Raspberry Pi?" Uncover the tale of two boards, exploring their distinct features and applications. Delve into the reasons behind this transition, showcasing Raspberry Pi's cutting-edge capabilities. From diverse strokes to vibrant community support, witness the evolution of a preference. Join the conversation on the thriving ecosystem that sets Raspberry Pi apart. Engage with the tech revolution in our insightful journey, and draw your conclusions on this fascinating transformation! Click now for the full scoop.

The world of Single Board Computing (SBC) is dynamic and constantly changing. Two popular SBCs, Beaglebone Black and Raspberry Pi, lead this trend. But with tech enthusiasts increasingly favouring the Raspberry Pi over the Beaglebone Black, things are changing. Let’s take a closer look at why this trend occurs.

Introduction:

In the ever-evolving global of Single Board Computing (SBC), tech enthusiasts are always looking for the brand new and best. Among the popular choices, BeagleBone Black and Raspberry Pi were lengthy-status favourites. However, an exciting shift has been occurring – increasingly tech specialists are making a deliberate transfer from BeagleBone Black to Raspberry Pi. In this exploration, we'll dive into the reasons behind this migration and discover why Raspberry Pi is prevailing the hearts of techies.

A Story of Two Boards

BeagleBone Black:

Imagine BeagleBone Black as a mature engineer, equipped with powerful features like TI Sitara AM335 SOC application processor, 512MB DDR3L RAM, 4GB eMMC Flash etc. It is known for its expertise in deploying complex industrial IoT applications, making it the go to choice for the tech savvy.

Raspberry Pi:

Now, picture Raspberry Pi as the friendly companion, a small credit card-sized computer that can do almost anything a regular computer can. It runs on Linux, supports Python, and offers GPIO pins for connecting to sensors and actuators. It's like the all-in-one buddy for tech enthusiasts.

Different Strokes

Parameter

Raspberry Pi

BeagleBone Black

Model Tested

It's like the trusty Model B version.

It's the reliable Rev A5 version.

Processor Type

Sporting the ARM11 processor.

Armed with the ARM Cortex-A8 processor.

RAM

 512 MB SDRAM.

512 MB DDR3L.

Processor Speed

 700 MHz.

 1 GHz.

Flash

Loading up with a dedicated SD Card socket.

Utilizing 4GB (micro SD) for OS and data storage.

Min Power

power at 700mA (3.5W).

minimum of 210mA (1.05W).

GPIO Pins

12 GPIO pins for versatility.

 69 GPIO pins.

Dev IDE

Engaging with IDLE, Scratch, Squeak/Linux.

Utilizing Python, Scratch, Squeak, Cloud9/Linux.

USB Master

Dual USB 2.0 onboard for connectivity.

A single USB 2.0 onboard.

Audio Output

Supporting HDMI and Analog audio output.

Analog output for audio.

Video Output

Offering HDMI and Composite output.

Not specifying a dedicated video output.

UART

Communicating with 1 UART for serial data.

5 UARTs for serial data.

No. of I/O pins

 8 Digital, 0 Analog pins.

65 Digital, 7 Analog pins.

 

 

The Shift: Raspberry Pi’s Edge

Computing Power and Memory: The Raspberry Pi packs in a better CPU and more memory, perfect for handling those demanding tasks. With up to 4GB of LDRDR4 RAM, the Raspberry Pi 4 is powerful.

  1. Price: Raspberry Pi keeps it wallet-friendly, starting at $35 for the 1GB variant, while the 4GB variant costs about $55. On the other side, BeagleBone Black hits the price tag at around $63.
  2. Versatility: Raspberry Pi becomes the Jack-of-all-trades, transforming into an Android TV Box, retro gaming arcade, Linux desktop, NAS, 3D printer, and more.
  3. Community Support: Raspberry Pi builds a community that feels like a family. It's been a core player in the SBC market, attracting a large and active user base, offering resources, education, and a sense of belonging.

Community Support and Ecosystem

1. Support and Ecosystem: Raspberry Pi is governed by unmatched community support and a great ecosystem. The Raspberry Pi Foundation fosters a global community, providing resources, classes and events for interested parties at all levels. The sheer number of features and variety of services contribute to the appeal of the Raspberry Pi.

BeagleBone Black, while having a capable community, finds it challenging to match the scale and variety of the Raspberry Pi community. The abundance of resources and the welcoming nature of the Raspberry Pi community make it a preferred choice for techies.

2. Accessibility and Affordability: The Raspberry Pi succeeds while remaining affordable without compromising performance. The variety of designs and affordability allows users to choose the one that best suits their needs and budget. These price-added factors have been the driving force behind the widespread adoption of the Raspberry Pi.

In contrast, BeagleBone Black, while feature-rich, leans towards the pricier side. The higher cost may pose a hurdle, especially for those with budget constraints or those exploring SBCs for educational purposes.

Feature

Raspberry Pi 3

Beaglebone Black

Basic Difference and History

Single-board computer by Raspberry Pi Foundation

Low-power open-source single-board computer by Texas Instruments

Processor

Broadcom BCM2835 (700MHz to 1.4GHz)

TI AM3359 (1GHz ARM Cortex-A8)

GPU

VideoCore IV® Multimedia Co-Processor

PowerVR SGX530

Memory

512MB SDRAM

512MB DDR3

Storage

MicroSD card slot

2GB 8-bit embedded MMC on-board flash

USB Ports

Dual USB 2.0 connectors

2x 46 pin headers (USB 2.0)

Video Output

HDMI, Composite RCA (PAL and NTSC)

Micro HDMI

Audio Output

3.5mm jack, HDMI

Micro HDMI

Dimensions

8.6cm x 5.4cm x 1.7cm

8.6cm x 5.3cm x 1.0cm

Price

$35

$45

Advantages

Built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Easy Setup

Extendable hardware with 92 expansion pins, On-board storage, GPIO functionality

 

 

3. Broad Range of Applications: Raspberry Pi's adaptability steals the spotlight, making it suitable for home automation, media centres, retro gaming, or even the brain of a robotics project. GPIO pins add to its versatility, allowing connection to a wide array of sensors and devices.

BeagleBone Black, although powerful, may lack the same simplicity and ease of use across various applications. The user-friendly nature of Raspberry Pi makes it a favorite in diverse projects.

4. Performance and Specifications: Raspberry Pi keeps pushing boundaries with new models featuring enhanced performance. The Raspberry Pi 4, with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and multiple USB 3.0 ports, ensures it stays competitive in the ever-evolving SBC landscape.

BeagleBone Black, while not lacking in performance, may not match the same performance-to-price ratio found in the latest Raspberry Pi models. The regular updates and advancements in Raspberry Pi specifications keep it a top choice for those seeking cutting-edge performance within a reasonable budget.

5. Education and Learning: Raspberry Pi becomes a trusted mentor in educational environments, serving as a valuable tool for teaching programming, electronics, and computer science. Specially designed kits and accessories, coupled with extensive documentation, make it an excellent choice for educators and learners alike.

Raspberry Pi's ecosystem proves conducive to introducing students to coding, hardware interfacing, and project-based learning. Its affordability becomes a key factor in making computing accessible for the next generation of tech enthusiasts.

Conclusion:

In wrapping up, while BeagleBone Black holds its ground as a powerful SBC with unique strengths, the shift towards Raspberry Pi is a mix of many factors. The vibrant community support, affordability, versatility in applications, ongoing performance improvements, and a significant role in education have propelled Raspberry Pi to the forefront of the SBC market.

As technology marches forward, the choice between BeagleBone Black and Raspberry Pi becomes a matter of personal preference, project requirements, and the specific needs of the tech community. Both platforms contribute to the rich world of single-board computers, catering to a diverse range of users. The friendly competition and innovation between these platforms benefit the entire SBC community, creating a dynamic and thriving environment for makers, developers, and tech enthusiasts. Whether one is drawn to the accessibility and widespread adoption of Raspberry Pi or the powerful capabilities of BeagleBone Black, the single-board computer landscape continues to evolve, promising exciting possibilities for the future of computing.

The shift from BeagleBone Black to Raspberry Pi among techies tells a story of Raspberry Pi's success in building a welcoming community, offering versatile applications, ensuring user-friendliness, being cost-effective, and gaining widespread industry acceptance. While both platforms have their strengths, the current trend suggests that Raspberry Pi has become the default choice for many developers and enthusiasts seeking a reliable and user-friendly single-board computer for their projects.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is BeagleBone Black different from Raspberry Pi?

While both the BeagleBone Black and the current flagship Raspberry Pi 4 were popular single-board computers, they catered to different needs. The BeagleBone Black boasted a powerful 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, potentially offering faster single-core performance. However, the Pi 4's quad-core architecture (meaning it has four processing cores) might excel in multithreaded tasks. Additionally, the Pi 4 offers RAM options from 1GB to 8GB, potentially bridging the multitasking gap depending on your project's demands. Both boards have built-in Ethernet ports, but some older BeagleBone Black versions offered more USB ports compared to the Pi 4's four. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your project's specific requirements and priorities, considering factors like single-core vs. multi-core performance, RAM needs, and available USB ports.

2. Why use BeagleBone Black?

The BeagleBone Black single-board computer offers exceptional performance and versatility at an affordable price. It boasts a fast processor, generous memory, and extensive connectivity options, making it the perfect choice for professionals in fields such as robotics, automation systems, or Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Its compact size also makes it ideal for portable prototyping projects without compromising processing power. Additionally, its open-source nature allows users to easily customize their projects using multiple programming languages and libraries. With BeagleBone Black, you can trust in a reliable yet flexible platform that will efficiently transform your innovative ideas into reality.

3. Why Raspberry Pi is better?

Raspberry Pi stands out as the superior option in the market for many reasons. First and foremost, its compact size allows for easy portability and flexibility in usage. Additionally, it offers an incredibly affordable price point without compromising on performance or features. Furthermore, Raspberry Pi has a strong community support system which includes various online forums and resources to assist users at any level of expertise. It also boasts impressive hardware capabilities including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options along with multiple ports for versatile connections. This combined with its user-friendly interface makes Raspberry Pi not just reliable but also highly accessible to all kinds of users ranging from students to professionals looking to explore innovative projects..

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