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Our university wanted to order some Pandaboards (http://pandaboard.org/) from DigiKey, but we were kind of scared off by the weird, weird ordering process (and strange localisations) compared to other online shops :(

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Since you are familiar with SBCs, do you happen to know any other board with similar CPU and memory config but having RS232/RS485 Connections on them?

I believe the Pandaboard comes with an RS232 connection. But you could also try the Beagleboard. You might want to take a look at the Gumstix Overo line and their various expansion boards, but I'm not exactly sure if they provide what you need. Also, you could try a USB->RS485 converter if you need that specifically.

Are you aware of any USB->RS485 converters that cost less than $30?

http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?productID=1...

If you're willing to just breadboard it, or want to integrate it into something else, an FTDI chip + Maxim 1308x is basically what they're selling you, and I don't think they cost half that.

The Beagleboard and Gumstix are both good recommendations. Also look at embeddedarm.com and mbed.org.

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