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Best Embedded Linux Development Kits?
curious-embed asks: "I'm currently involved in a project which is moving towards using Linux in an embedded environment. However, I am having a lot of trouble finding a reasonably priced dev kit to tinker with and move towards something more production ready. Linuxdevices.com has a guide The Linux-friendly Embedded SBCs Quick Reference Guide but most of the listed manufacturers won't talk to you unless you are buying 100+ kits. I'm specifically looking for something ~$200 with USB/Audio/Video that is Linux friendly. Ideas anyone?"
I've not used it myself, but tonight at our local LUG in Raleigh there's going to be a presentation on White Dwarf Linux. From what I've heard they have a pretty nice embedded linux setup as well as some neat embedded hardware platforms they target out-of-the-box.
WWJD? JWRTFM!!!
Unfortunately, "embedded" covers everything from headless PCs controlling industrial systems to system-on-chip devices that need to run on the same battery for 3 years.
On the large end, as others have suggested, you can just use a standard PC for development and prototyping. At the other extreme, you're probably going to want to just buy a packaged system like a uCdimm -- LinuxDevices has a good list.
In the middle, though, I've had good experiences with the OpenBrick; it's basically just a low-env VIA EPIA system, with onboard graphics, Ethernet, USB, etc. I actually ran one for lightweight web and MP3 serving for about a year, with it stuffed in between stacks of books on a shelf, and just the network and power cables running out the back.
I'm programming the ARM7 Eagle dev board at work right now.
It's great for quick prototyping - has flash, RS232s, network and all.
They sell it for ~$400.
When the prototype is done, I just hand it over to my hardware collegues;
they trim it down to matchbox size.
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