I’ve been playing with a dual-core CPU, quad core GPU Android Mini PC running Jelly Bean 4.1.1. What I’ve found compelling about the device is that for £40 you can get such a capable device. I ordered mine from Amazon and it arrived within a few days.
1080p
The Mini PC I ordered supports 60Hz 1080p screen resolution so it is possible to use it as a full HD media player. I’ve tried it with a few 720p videos and I’m impressed by the quality of playback – no stuttering whatsoever. I will spend a bit more time playing with the video functionality as this might end up accompanying an Apple TV next to my main display in the living room.
Basic Office Tasks
I’ve found the basic office tasks a little hit and miss to be honest. For some reason I cannot disable the onscreen keyboard whilst I have either a bluetooth keyboard or USB keyboard plugged in.
Also content written in Google Drive is not readable as the font is so small that it is entirely unreadable.
On the plus side when using the bundled Office Suite, creating a document is a breeze. I’m not too familiar with this app but if this is the only way of creating documents without paying for an app then it seems good enough… And it looks like Google Docs integration is included so that’s pretty useful.
Performance
Performance appears to be adequate, although I did notice quite a fair bit of slow down whilst a 412 song Spotify playlist was downloading. It is entirely usable for day to day tasks and email / web browsing don’t bother it too much (as you would expect).
Touch Screen
The biggest challenge with one of these devices is that Android was primarily written for a touch interface and flicking between screens sometimes feels a little unnatural with a mouse. That said if you are proficient with a mouse (and who isn’t) then this shouldn’t be too painful an adjustment.
Who will buy?
I bought the Mini PC because it was cheap and to get more exposure to Android. I’ve found it to be a mixed bag but for the amount of money spent I feel as though I still have a bargain.
I guess that most people buying this kind of device would be enthusiasts who don’t mind putting up with the rough edges as the number of features are staggering. As a means to turn an LCD TV into a Smart-ish TV this is a real bargain.
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