Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
For those less in the known, there's a new category of Windows mini PCs rocking the low end market with certifiable lilliputian sizes and prices. We are talking €/$100 or so.
Yeah, that cheap.
Most of those devices are based on mobile chipsets and are very limited in terms of power, but they pack enough to provide smooth Full HD playback over YouTube and even some 2D gaming/Minecrafting for a pittance, not to mention the usual MS Office stuff. Basically, some smart chinese manufacturers realized that they could take the same hardware used to make those janky ass Windows tablets and churn small computers at budget prices, giving birth to a new category of computers well below the Gigabyte Brix & Co.
I've been looking at them due to work, and I thought I could share some of the best known with the rest of GAF just in case somebody else had any experience with them and wanted to share their impressions.
Kangaroo
Ports come in the manner of a dongle. Kangaroo says it will release new, optional ones with different ports and options. Not bad for 100 bucks.
Beelink POCKET P1
The posterchild of China don't care. I mean, look at that fucking logo. Other than that, it comes with a Intel Z3735F Bay Trail proc, 2/32 GB of memory, an activated copy of Windows 8.1 with Bing and a bunch of ports.
It also has its own internal battery, so you don't even need to keep it plugged all the time. Oddly enough, the manufacturer's site doesn't even mention this feature, much to the surprise of some users. It goes for $/€120 or so and reviews seem surprisingly positive.
VOYO V2
The odd duck. It's has the size of a power bank and it actually serves as one. You read that right. Shit comes with a 5.000 mAh battery and a microUSB port that can be used to charge your phone if needed. It also features an Intel Baytrail T Z3735F proc, 2/32+64 GB of memory, Windows 10 and an Ethernet port, which is not that common in this segment.
Apparently it's very nicely built, but some users have reported issues with their Windows license (which doesn't surprise me that much; I mean, look at their Lenovo Yoga and Apple Watch rip-offs... this is a company that doesn't give a shit) and the on board storage is rather slow. Also, it may decode 4K video, but it can't output it. Not that you should expect more from a $100 Windows computer named VOYO.
I was wondering if anybody at GAF has any experience with similar microcomputers. I love the RasPi and everything that has accomplished, but Wintel computers are getting so damn cheap it's hard not to look at those things if you are into easy home automation and embedded systems. I'm almost tempted to buy a Kangaroo or a VOYO just to fuck around and see what can I do with them.
Yeah, that cheap.
Most of those devices are based on mobile chipsets and are very limited in terms of power, but they pack enough to provide smooth Full HD playback over YouTube and even some 2D gaming/Minecrafting for a pittance, not to mention the usual MS Office stuff. Basically, some smart chinese manufacturers realized that they could take the same hardware used to make those janky ass Windows tablets and churn small computers at budget prices, giving birth to a new category of computers well below the Gigabyte Brix & Co.
I've been looking at them due to work, and I thought I could share some of the best known with the rest of GAF just in case somebody else had any experience with them and wanted to share their impressions.
Kangaroo
Quite easily the most accomplished and legit of the bunch. Good enough to be sold through Microsoft's official store. Comes with a Intel Cherrytrail (Atom Z8500) processor clocked at 2.24GHz, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage (plus a microSD slot). Oh, and a fingerprint reader and a four hour battery. Yes, it has its own battery.
Ports come in the manner of a dongle. Kangaroo says it will release new, optional ones with different ports and options. Not bad for 100 bucks.
Beelink POCKET P1
The posterchild of China don't care. I mean, look at that fucking logo. Other than that, it comes with a Intel Z3735F Bay Trail proc, 2/32 GB of memory, an activated copy of Windows 8.1 with Bing and a bunch of ports.
It also has its own internal battery, so you don't even need to keep it plugged all the time. Oddly enough, the manufacturer's site doesn't even mention this feature, much to the surprise of some users. It goes for $/€120 or so and reviews seem surprisingly positive.
VOYO V2
The odd duck. It's has the size of a power bank and it actually serves as one. You read that right. Shit comes with a 5.000 mAh battery and a microUSB port that can be used to charge your phone if needed. It also features an Intel Baytrail T Z3735F proc, 2/32+64 GB of memory, Windows 10 and an Ethernet port, which is not that common in this segment.
Apparently it's very nicely built, but some users have reported issues with their Windows license (which doesn't surprise me that much; I mean, look at their Lenovo Yoga and Apple Watch rip-offs... this is a company that doesn't give a shit) and the on board storage is rather slow. Also, it may decode 4K video, but it can't output it. Not that you should expect more from a $100 Windows computer named VOYO.
I was wondering if anybody at GAF has any experience with similar microcomputers. I love the RasPi and everything that has accomplished, but Wintel computers are getting so damn cheap it's hard not to look at those things if you are into easy home automation and embedded systems. I'm almost tempted to buy a Kangaroo or a VOYO just to fuck around and see what can I do with them.
