Most people think of Linux firstly as a computer operating system, running on user desktops and powering servers. But Linux can also be found inside many consumer electronics devices. Whether they're inside a cell phone, cable box, or exercise bike, embedded Linux systems blur the definition between computer and device. This blurriness has made its way into the maker realm and that's great because it's putting more powerful tools in the hands of regular people, not just those who design electronics for a living.The BeagleBone is an embedded Linux development board from Texas Instruments that's aimed at hackers and tinkerers. It's a smaller, more barebones version of their BeagleBoard. Both are open source hardware and use TI's OMAP processors, which are designed for low-power mobile devices.