"I'm partial to the BBB over the Raspberry Pi because of its core processor. Both are ARM engines; the BBB one is made by Texas Instruments, the RPi one by Broadcom. The crucial difference is that TI publishes a full manual for that chip on-line free for the download (5000 or so pages!!!) while Broadcom treats the documentation as a deep secret and refuses to release it to anyone who doesn't sign a confidentiality agreement."