A new computer called the "HummingBoard" takes on the same basic shape as the Raspberry Pi but uses a more powerful processor and supports more operating systems.

SolidRun, which also makes the CuBox-i computer we wrote about, just started selling the HummingBoard in several configurations ranging from $45 to $100, not including the price of a power adapter and Micro SD card.

"The HummingBoard allows you to run many open source operating systems—such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch—as well as Android and XBMC," SolidRun says. "With its core technology based on SolidRun’s state-of-the-art Micro System on a Module (MicroSOM), it has ready-to-use OS images, and its open hardware comes with full schematics and layout. Best of all, as a Linux single board computer, the HummingBoard is backed by the global digital maker community, which means you can alter the product in any way you like and get full kernel upstreaming support and all the assistance you need."

HummingBoard uses a 1GHz ARMv7 processor rather than the 700MHz ARMv6 one that has worked well for the Raspberry Pi yet limits the number of operating systems it can run. HummingBoard configurations use single- and dual-core i.MX 6 chips based on the ARM Cortex-A9 architecture, and they range from 512MB to 1GB of memory.

Other features include OpenGL support, up to Gigabit Ethernet, support for mSATA and PCIe mini cards, HDMI, GPIO pins, LVDS display out, a camera interface, and powered USB.

The HummingBoard was "cleverly designed to mimic the Raspberry Pi’s dimensions and layout," Geek.com wrote. "That means it’ll fit into the hundreds of ready-to-use Raspberry Pi cases." In addition, "[t]he processor sits on its own module, which means you may be able to purchase upgrades for it in the future."

Here's a video from SolidRun that compares the HummingBoard to the Raspberry Pi: