Are there big parts of the complete LinuxARM Kernel removed or are these boot times normal on such "embedded" devices like the empeg ?

Part of the secret is that the kernel itself is in flash memory, so the boot procedure starts while the drive(s) are still being spun up. Large parts of standard distribution's "let's throw everything in" kernel are omitted, of course.

Dragi "Bonzi" Raos
Zagreb, Croatia
Q#5196, MkII#80000376, 18GB green