For an idea of what the BeagleBoard can do, just check into the community that is experimenting with the board. As an example, this slide shows the BeagleBoard working like a desktop system powered from the alternate port or via the USB. In this case, the Anstrom Linux distribution is running on a Beagle Board. It works like a desktop with drawing tools running, word processing, web browser, stereo in/out, and can be connected to a mouse.