A $74 PC
May 21, 2012
A Chinese manufacturer has introduced the Model MK802, a $74 USB thumb-drive sized computer, liliputing reports, beating the FXI Cotton Candy PC on a stick to market (it will be available soon for $200).
(Credit: Allwinner)
The MK802 is available from AliExpress for $74, or less if you order in bulk. It has a 1.5 GHz Allwiner A10 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, USB port, microSD card slot, and HDMI port. It also features 802.11b/g WiFi and support for HD video playback in a variety of media formats.
It ships with Google Android 4.0 software, but theoretically you should be able to install Ubuntu or other operating systems.
Zero Devices is preparing to launch the Z802 which looks nearly identical, except for the Zero Devices logo on the front of the device, and available for pre-order from some sources for about $76.
Comments (7)
by Jay
now i can plug a computer into my computer!
by Spikosauropod
Like Mortran, I can’t see the point. It is a disembodied brain. Why not just buy a smart phone or a thumb drive? I suppose it would make your software portable, but that never seems to be an issue. Most of the computers I end up working on have more software than I can personally afford anyhow. Rick Bennett apparently has a use for one, but what mortal goes around doing that sort of thing?
by GatorALLin
Love to hear how others plan to use this cool new device… would you plug into someone else’s monitor/keyboard/power to use this…? Cool these are so small and look like a keyring sized device. I guess you could always bum the keyboard and screen from most smart phones…. (I would like to see 2 usb ports also).
by Rick Bennett
Neat. Now get one of these to plug into an iPad and you have a dangerous combination for my Cyber Privateers to hit the road looking for “war drivers” to catch in the act and bring down HARD. Heck, bring a portable battery pack and remotely take over the war driver instantly, automatically and remotely.
by Allanx
What real wardrivers do is harmlessly build up a catalog of access points and their geographic locations. What you’re talking about – or at least what I hope you’re talking about – is piggybacking. To that, I say why bother stealing? There are plenty of free Wi-Fi access points near hotels, restaurants and other places of business that are easy enough to access and legally use.
Besides, I have trouble taking someone seriously when they suggest the use of a touchscreen tablet for anything other than consuming mass-market entertainment or reading reports as part of a paperless office setting. Unless you automate commands with batch files and other made-to-order applications, it is difficult to quickly carry out complex operations with touch. A solid, heavy-duty laptop would be better for the kind of work you’re talking about.
by Mortran
What’s the point of this device?
In order for a human to work with it you need an external power supply, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. So the whole system is much bigger and more expensive than a netbook or a smartphone.
You can build it into a model plane or boat, but why would you need a case. You could just use the board. And you certainly wouldn’t need Android as OS.
by Rob Fleming
Really needs two USB ports. I know you could put a hub on the single USB, but the cost and space of one more port is marginal and the utility drops off sharply after two. I’m thinking that with two ports, you could put a control device on one and a tuner on the other and make every display a smart TV. Probably a number of medical instruments and suchlike that could suddenly become smart as well.