The Portable Freeware Collection Forums

Midas wrote:Old topic update: just found about the Gigabyte BRIX, a sandy bridge mini PC with some impressive specs -- integrated Intel graphics adapter, 1x HDMI, 1x Mini Display, 2x USB 3.0 (1 front), and Gigabit LAN... I think it qualifies as portable.

Very cool. I'm a fan of their motherboards, so I'd definitely try that out before many other mini PCs I've seen.

Another entry, this time from Saudi Arabia: the RayOS Atomic. Costing slightly less than 300 bucks and designed for Linux, doesn't impress by its muscle (it's more or less similar in spec to a budget netbook), but has no fans or moving parts (well, there's the HDD...) -- I'm sure it could be turned into a low-spec Windows gadget, if that's your fancy...

• http://ray-beta.com/products/atomic/

• [*] Intel N270 Core solo 1.6GHz
  533MHz FSB (FSB)
  512 Secondary cache
  2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM
  Intel 945GSE Graphic Adapter w/ 128MB memory
  ALC662 audio chipset
  Broadcom Crystal HD decoder BCM70012
  SATA HDD 320GB
  RTL8111DL Ethernet Lan 10/100/1000M
  6xUSB 2.0
  Built-in Wifi w/ external antenna
  850 g (205 mm x 140 mm x 40 mm)

And here's yet another entry, or rather a triple one: the Open-PC, coming in the XS, Micro and 1 varieties, all built around Intel Atom Dual-Core 1,6 GHz processors with cost ranging from 250 to 390 bucks -- and the later ones, with their mini-ITX cases make interesting options for DIY NAS appliances...

http://open-pc.com/

Well, I'm mostly responsible for the off-topic departure of this here topic (pendrive SOC, anyone?) but it seems I only cross paths with miniPCs lately. So, here's another:

• Rikomagic MK902 LE ARM-Powered Mini-PC
  http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rikomagi ... 9428.shtml

This Rikomagic is based on Rockchip RK3188 ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core processor, with 2GB RAM, 8 to 16GB storage, and optional Android or Linux(?) OS. Prices range from $105/€76 to $159/€116 at official Cloudstro webstore.

Some additions:

• HummingBoard: http://imx.solid-run.com/wiki/index.php ... d_Hardware
• Banana Pi: http://bananapi.org/

Intel is get getting into stick computers -- dual OS and with a $90-150 price range, but with a HDMI connector, not USB:

• Intel Compute Stick Is a Back-Pocket PC That Runs Ubuntu and Windows 8.1
  http://news.softpedia.com/news/CES-2015 ... 9384.shtml

Other than that, there's Mini-PC galore -- unfortunately, they appear to be almost exclusively Linux friendly:

• PC Partner launches Linux mini PC with Tegra K1
  http://liliputing.com/2015/01/pc-partne ... ra-k1.html

• The Linux Mint Project Announces the MintBox Mini PC
  http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Linu ... 0110.shtml

• Ringing in 2015 with 40 Linux-friendly hacker SBCs
  http://linuxgizmos.com/ringing-in-2015- ... cker-sbcs/

EDIT: another pair of prospective entries into the mini-PC category...

• Cirrus7 Nimbini, The Most Stylish Ubuntu PC Ever?
  http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2015/04/cirr ... -announced

• ZOTAC announces Intel Broadwell-powered mini-PCs
  http://betanews.com/2015/04/09/zotac-an ... -mini-pcs/

HDMI sticks seem to be the flavor of the month, after Intel's move first reported above...

• The best HDMI operating system sticks
  http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-best-h ... em-sticks/

As a spoiler, here's the list of nominees:

• Tronsmart CX-919 Quad Core RK3188 Android Mini PC
  MK903V TV stick
  Rikomagic V5 TV stick
  MeGoPad T01
  Intel Compute Stick
  Chromebit

C.H.I.P.: a computer that costs only nine dollars.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/15 ... escription

SYSTEM wrote:C.H.I.P.: a computer that costs only nine dollars.

• Yep, I have seen that... and its massive Kickstarter success (more than 100% over target). IMHO, it could be the real path to the much vaunted IOT (AKA Internet Of Things).

I found a roundup on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compariso ... _computers

From Lenovo and Archos, two further entries for the computer-on-a-HDMI-stick category, which seems to be the trend nowadays:

• Lenovo [...] announces diminutive ideacentre Stick 300 Windows PC
  http://betanews.com/2015/06/23/lenovo-g ... indows-pc/

• ARCHOS PC Stick is a tiny $99 Windows 10 computer
  http://betanews.com/2015/06/26/archos-p ... -computer/

Microsoft got on board with the PC-on-a-stick thing:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/You-See- ... 4746.shtml

If I was going to claim that there was some sort of post-PC era, this might be good evidence. It also might be an indicator Microsoft cares about portability.

LattePanda Windows10 $69

... a full computer on a board that runs Windows 10.

This mighty processor board that costs from $69 (£45) boasts the power to do anything that a PC can. This means it can create Office documents, run HD videos and behave exactly like a home PC.

The brand name LattePanda comes pre-installed with a full edition of Windows 10, including powerful tools such as Visual Studio, NodeJS and Java. However it is the hardware where LattePanda excels as it features a quad-core 1.8Ghz processor, 2/4G RAM, 32/64 GB eMMC, WIFI, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 3.0, plus onboard Arduino processor

http://www.itproportal.com/2015/12/29/l ... -board-69/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13 ... everything

seems too good to be true

Well, this ain't no computer-on-a-stick, not even a mini-pc like the ones posted before, but I'm sure you'll agree it's very interesting. I'm sorry, I haven't found any good review so I'll just have to post the sellers link:

• K3 Wintel Keyboard Windows 10 MINI PC
  http://www.geekbuying.com/item/362181.html

FYI, main specs are an Intel Quad-core Z3735F (1.83GHz) with HD Graphics GPU, Windows 10, 2GB RAM and 32GB eMMC, VGA/HDMI/Eternet interfaces, and Wifi/Bluetooth (at 95 EUR currently). Don't know about overall usability/quality, but with the abundance of screens everywhere, this sounds pretty sweet as a portable computer.

• 

Arcade machine made with Raspberry pi:

http://i1.wp.com/cdn.makezine.com/uploa ... =620%2C467

this is related to the article you can find here: http://makezine.com/2014/10/04/10-diy-a ... t-to-make/

and if you intend to do one yourself try this link: http://www.instructables.com/id/Micro-R ... e-cabinet/
Easy as pie.

And to know more about Arduino just google a bit...
If you want to start with this hardware and connect it with windows check this link for a start:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Windows
Hope you will be inspired, and may be gain interest into the hardware and how to drive it. Welcome to home engineering if you do.

I do little electronic, mainly robotic mini-project with Raspberry pi and Arduino system, even connect both Hardware together. Sometime one or more of these mini prototype build with this kind of hardware become part of a bigger project at work. This USB Key with HDMI output mentioned in the original post was what I missed to finalize a not so old project.

@Midas: what about flexible water proof keyboard? Oh it's also a PC, too bad. I tried... Have a nice day