Entries with tag android pc .

The Age of the Mini PC--Part 1: Devices

 

Part 1:  Devices

 

Expensive, large, loud, power-hungry desktop PC "dinosaurs" are more and more a thing of the past.  The new class of Mini PCs are finally here--small as a credit card, powerful enough to run a full Linux OS (not just a cumbersome Android touchscreen OS), very low power, noiseless, portable, and under $100.  You can plug them straight into the HDMI slot of your monitor, grab a wireless keyboard/mouse, and you're online (more on what you can run and leveraging cloud/VDI in Part 2:  Applications.)  We've been testing, building, and integrating the top contenders--here's the roundup.

 

 

 

Raspberry Pi

Model B

CubieBoard2 UG008 Odroid-u U2C MK808 CX-919
CPU

700 MHz

ARM11

Dual 1.9 GHz

ARM Cortex A7

Dual 1.6 GHz

RK3066 Cortex A9

Quad 1.4 Ghz

Exynos4412 Cortex A9

Dual 1.6 GHz

RK3066 Cortex A9

Dual 1.6 GHz

RK3066 Cortex A9

Quad 1.8 GHz

RK3188 Cortex A9

GPU

250 MHz

VideoCore IV

400 MHz

Quad Mali-400

400 MHz

Quad Mali-400

400 MHz

Quad Mali-400

400 MHz

Quad Mali-400

400 MHz

Quad Mali-400

400 MHz

Quad Mali-400

Memory 512 MB SDRAM 1 GB DDR3 1 GB DDR3 1 GB DDR2 1 GB DDR3 1 GB DDR3 2 GB DDR3
HD - 4 GB NAND Flash 8 GB NAND Flash - 8 GB NAND Flash 8 GB NAND Flash 8 GB NAND Flash
Bluetooth No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Ethernet Port Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
AV Port Yes Yes Yes Yes No (mic) No No
Power Button No Yes Yes No Yes No No
Camera No No No No Yes No No
Weight 45g 40g - 40g 52g - -
   w/case 100g 140g 100g 165g 135g 55g 65g
Custom ROMS No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Linux rpi thin, rpi asterisk, wheezy cubiuntu, cubieez picuntu   picuntu picuntu picuntu
Notes Great for tinkering / kids, not enough power for PC replacement. Solid board, but slower CPU, low memory, and case is a non-starter.  Next model cubietruck fixes most of this, but jumps to $110. Solid board, but slower CPU, low memory, and case is cheap.  If they upgrade to RK3188...new winner. Hard to get full Linux running, and heatsink "case" is cumbersome. Stand-out with the camera and dock, but wireless is poor and not worth the cost. Best price for value, but wireless is poor and quality is low. Fastest response, great wireless coverage with the external antenna.
Price $45 $59 - - $78 - -
   w/case $53 $67 $68 $68 $90 $45 $77
Ranking 2 5 9 5 7 7 10

 

So the winner is the CX-919, performance is excellent and quality/materials have kept up with hard daily usage (writing this review on it right now!)  It would be nice to have a headset jack built-in, but a USB headset can be plugged in as necessary.  Stay tuned for Part 2:  Applications.