Thanks for the links mru! Both look very interesting; Beagleboard in particular. How helpful are the communities associated with both? It'd be nice to know whether I can ask newbie questions without getting blasted.
The Beagleboard has a very friendly and helpful community with mailing list and IRC channel. The Hawkboard is newer and as such doesn't have quite the same following, but you should have no trouble getting help with it either.