Intel-based PC-Stick

[biostem]

So I am considering getting one of the below PC-sticks as part of a possible media-PC/smart TV type setup for a bedroom in my house. The main draw for me is that it's a full Windows 8.1 PC. Have any of you tried one of these out, or dealt with AliExpress.com before? Please share your experiences.

Thanks!

Link: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32GB-Ver ... 58338.html

The CPU is a 1.8Ghz quad-core Bay Trail, and the stick sports 2GB RAM and a 32GB SSD, (though the latter is more likely to be generic flash storage).

[Executor32]

Depending on how badly you need/want this, you might want to wait a few months. Intel is supposed to be releasing their own Compute Stick with the same specs sometime in the first quarter of this year, and I'd trust them more than some random Chinese company I've never heard of.

AliExpress is a solid site, though. I haven't ordered anything through their site directly, since AFAIK they've only recently begun offering lower-volume orders for end-users, but I have ordered capacitors and the like through their eBay storefront and they've always arrived on time and in excellent condition.

[biostem]

I took the plunge and ordered one. I'll let you know how it is, once I get it...

[Iroscato]

That looks pretty damn awesome. I wonder if they'll be available in the UK soon...

[Bedlam]

That looks pretty damn awesome. I wonder if they'll be available in the UK soon...

Well as it tells me as soon as a enter the site they ship to the UK (via Singapore for some reason).

[biostem]

That looks pretty damn awesome. I wonder if they'll be available in the UK soon...

There re many versios of the stick - there's a 1GB RAM/16GB SSD/16-bit version, and the 2GB RAM/32GB SSD/32-bit version i got. They also have separate listings for different wall-socket types, so make sure to check that out as well. Also, is there a difference in HDMI functionality in Europe vs the US, (kinda like how there's NTSC and PAL)?

The other factor I'm anxious to test is whether I'll be able to just plug the stick into the USB port on my TV to provide power, instead of using the AC adapter.

[Iroscato]

That looks pretty damn awesome. I wonder if they'll be available in the UK soon...

Well as it tells me as soon as a enter the site they ship to the UK (via Singapore for some reason).

I meant more along the lines of readily available from UK outlets, but thanks

[salm]

Wow, if this works decently for a mediaPC/SmartTV solution something like this would be great.
Is it possible to install Linux? That would cut the price in half and still give you all the functionality a mediaPC requires.

[biostem]

Wow, if this works decently for a mediaPC/SmartTV solution something like this would be great.
Is it possible to install Linux? That would cut the price in half and still give you all the functionality a mediaPC requires.

It's an intel X86 processor, so I don't see why it couldn't run Linux. The issue is that it only has 1 full-size USB port, so you'd probably want to connect that to a powered USB hub to connect something like an external CD/DVD drive to load the OS, (unless you do some sort of install from within Windows). Another issue would be drivers - it's obviously using integrated video, sound, wifi, and bluetooth, so drivers may be a bit tricky for Linux...

[Irbis]

The other factor I'm anxious to test is whether I'll be able to just plug the stick into the USB port on my TV to provide power, instead of using the AC adapter.

IIRC there are two kinds of powered USB ports - standard, found in most powered devices, and heavy duty, requiring either special device or wall AC, found in some tablets and USB hdds. This technically is breaking USB standard, so hopefully it's the first kind, but I'd be surprised if they already made small PC that can work on standard USB under full load.

Is it possible to install Linux? That would cut the price in half and still give you all the functionality a mediaPC requires.

If you read the listing, they seem to provide just trial version of Windows, so I don't know how you expect the price to be halved. It's very low for any licensed OS to be included anyway. They also say the device has android drivers, and, to be honest, I'd expect that to work much better than linux.

[salm]

Is it possible to install Linux? That would cut the price in half and still give you all the functionality a mediaPC requires.

If you read the listing, they seem to provide just trial version of Windows, so I don't know how you expect the price to be halved. It's very low for any licensed OS to be included anyway. They also say the device has android drivers, and, to be honest, I'd expect that to work much better than linux.

That´s exactly why I meant that. If you buy it with windows trial you also have to buy a windows key which is around 100 bucks. So you pay 100 bucks for the stick and a 100 bucks for windows. If you install Linux or some other free OS you just halved the price.

[biostem]

OK, so I finally got the PC Stick, (called a MeeGoPad T01). At first, it wouldn't turn on, and I got very worried. In looking at the specifications of the stick, it noted it needs 5V, 2A DC input, but they sent it with a 5v, 500mA USB wall adapter. I contacted Aliexpress's support, and within the hour they advised me to order the correct USB adapter, provide them with the link, and they'd refund me, (they did so via Paypal). I also ended up ordering an HDMI extender, since the TV I want to use the computer stick on is kinda cramped where the HDMI port it.

Some other observations:

The stick comes with a demo version of Windows 8.1, so you'd need either use an activator or buy a license. While it did allow me to select my language during the initial setup, there are many programs pre-installed that are all in Chinese. I installed my own antivirus and antispyware, before I input any personal info, and was happy to see the image they used was clean.

Other thoughts:

The stick computer has 1 full size USB port, 1 micro USB port, and 1 microsd card slot. There *is* a second micro USB port, but it is strictly for power-in. I got a wireless keyboard/touchpad that uses the full size USB port, but I also have a powered USB hub on the way, (in case I want to expand what I can connect). The 32GB SSD comes partitioned into what appears to be a small section for a build of Android, (I haven't bothered to read up on how to access this), a main OS partition, and a partition for "User files". The system properties show the CPU as being 64-bit with a speed of 1.33 Ghz, with a burst speed of 1.83 Ghz, but the windows build says it's 32-bit.

All in all, for the $100.99 I spent on this, I'm happy with it.

[Terralthra]

Wow, if this works decently for a mediaPC/SmartTV solution something like this would be great.
Is it possible to install Linux? That would cut the price in half and still give you all the functionality a mediaPC requires.

It's an intel X86 processor, so I don't see why it couldn't run Linux. The issue is that it only has 1 full-size USB port, so you'd probably want to connect that to a powered USB hub to connect something like an external CD/DVD drive to load the OS, (unless you do some sort of install from within Windows). Another issue would be drivers - it's obviously using integrated video, sound, wifi, and bluetooth, so drivers may be a bit tricky for Linux...

Booting and installing Linux from a USB flashdrive is a solved problem.

[Irbis]

That´s exactly why I meant that. If you buy it with windows trial you also have to buy a windows key which is around 100 bucks. So you pay 100 bucks for the stick and a 100 bucks for windows. If you install Linux or some other free OS you just halved the price.

Um, no? Microsoft gives away Windows licences to producers of small devices for pretty long time now, and this one would definitely qualify (link). Either the producent of this is disreputable enough to not get into the program or they steal licences and give users trial instead...

Booting and installing Linux from a USB flashdrive is a solved problem.

But why you'd bother? Linux is pretty crap as soon as it doesn't like one hardware component in your desktop, and this custom box has potential to be absolute nix nightmare when it comes to working drivers. I'd honestly use even Android instead...

[Zaune]

For once I have to agree; Linux is contra-indicated for something this specialised unless you can find -or develop- a distro built around it.

Though anyone else considering something like this who does want to go open source might want to look into the latest iteration of the Raspberry Pi.

[mr friendly guy]

A bit late now, but when you say media-PC/smart TV are you trying to create a Home Theatre PC? Because the wiki description of a smart tv seems to be what some of the more advance HTPC set ups can do.

[Terralthra]

Booting and installing Linux from a USB flashdrive is a solved problem.

But why you'd bother? Linux is pretty crap as soon as it doesn't like one hardware component in your desktop, and this custom box has potential to be absolute nix nightmare when it comes to working drivers. I'd honestly use even Android instead...

This post brought to you from 2009. Fortunately, like the vast majority of "custom" hardware, the T01 doesn't have anything particularly esoteric or unique. It's an Intel SoC, and all the hardware is supported by Ubuntu 14.10 out of the box.

The biggest issue appears to be the UEFI BIOS allowing you to turn boot-from-USB off, but not turn it back on.

[Jub]

This post brought to you from 2009. Fortunately, like the vast majority of "custom" hardware, the T01 doesn't have anything particularly esoteric or unique. It's an Intel SoC, and all the hardware is supported by Ubuntu 14.10 out of the box.

The biggest issue appears to be the UEFI BIOS allowing you to turn boot-from-USB off, but not turn it back on.

I like the idea of going with an open source OS, but if I were to adopt it it would have to be at least equal to Windows in the areas of ease of use, cost (not trivial when it comes to the fact that Windows 10 will be free), ability to run games, and technical support from both the publisher of the OS and 3rd parties like my ISP, the hotel I might be staying at, or the developer of any given piece of software. Can any Linux distro honestly claim it is as good in every one of those areas as Windows is?

[biostem]

A bit late now, but when you say media-PC/smart TV are you trying to create a Home Theatre PC? Because the wiki description of a smart tv seems to be what some of the more advance HTPC set ups can do.

My reasons for buying the stick PC are thus:

1. I already have the "dumb TV" and want to use it to be able to access the internet, watch movies, visit Youtube, etc.

2. While I did have an old computer connected to said TV previously, the setup was too cumbersome for my purposes, so I wanted something more compact and quieter.

3. I already have a Roku 2 and an Xbox 360, so I am familiar with those. I have also used smart TVs before, but just dislike the interface. I have a wireless touchpad/keyboard unit, so I can control all the functions easily. I have a media PC in the house, and intend to share movies and music from there, over the network...

[salm]

That´s exactly why I meant that. If you buy it with windows trial you also have to buy a windows key which is around 100 bucks. So you pay 100 bucks for the stick and a 100 bucks for windows. If you install Linux or some other free OS you just halved the price.

Um, no? Microsoft gives away Windows licences to producers of small devices for pretty long time now, and this one would definitely qualify (link). Either the producent of this is disreputable enough to not get into the program or they steal licences and give users trial instead...

So are there any 100$ windows sticks around with legal complete copies?

[biostem]

That´s exactly why I meant that. If you buy it with windows trial you also have to buy a windows key which is around 100 bucks. So you pay 100 bucks for the stick and a 100 bucks for windows. If you install Linux or some other free OS you just halved the price.

Um, no? Microsoft gives away Windows licences to producers of small devices for pretty long time now, and this one would definitely qualify (link). Either the producent of this is disreputable enough to not get into the program or they steal licences and give users trial instead...

So are there any 100$ windows sticks around with legal complete copies?

The version of Windows that my stick PC came with was an un-activated demo/trial version. I am not aware of any versions of this stick PC that come with a full, legal version of windows.