Got it today...DAMN its big??

[Brian Beuken]

The Olimex-A64 (which isn't available yet) is a bit smaller according to picture, but doesn't have as much headers.
https://olimex.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/...d-is-live/

Another good point- Pine64 has a lot more expansion pins, and connectors than most of the SBC's I've seen.

ermm....I don't think you've seen many then? Here's a selection of mine, the Beagleboard XM being the biggest until the arrival of the Pine which dwarfs them all I'll take an updated pic soon.

Sure, it has more GPIO's than most, but did you need that many, and its possible keep the credit card size factor with 2 rows? A few others can boast similar GPIO, Beagleboard and C.H.I.P. for example, the latter having 80GPIO and tiny form for $9

But 2 USB, power, SD slots, Ethernet and audio, hdmi are actually pretty much the standard for the bulk of SBC's which also tend to boast onboard wifi/BT Many have 3 or 4 USB's on board mic's and eMMC mounts, camera and lcd panel outs.. There's nothing remarkable at all about the Pine's connections?

As I say, I am by no means unhappy with the board (though I am yet to get it running) but I think you're overselling it, and twisting in the wind a little to justify that,  the size is certainly odd, I don't see how you can justify it with price considerations, or calling it a developer target...they are all developer boards?

Isn't it simpler to say it was much easier to design at that size, rather than going to a layered, smaller board?

Anyway, I've finally finished downloading Debian, so am going to try and fire it up,