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Remix Mini Review: a $70 Android Desktop PC (liliputing.com)

Posted by samzenpus on from the check-it-out dept.

walterbyrd writes: Earlier this year, Jide released a 2-in-1 tablet called the Remix Ultra, which shipped with a custom version of Android called Remix OS. The software features a taskbar, a desktop, support for keyboard shortcuts, and support for running many apps either in full-screen mode or in smaller windows. The Remix Ultra tablet comes with a keyboard cover and touchpad, allowing you to use it like a laptop — and it worked... kind of. But the Remix Ultra is also kind of expensive. Now Jide is offering something much more affordable: the Jide Remix Mini is basically a small, low-power desktop computer that ships with Remix OS. After running a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise money (and awareness) this fall, Jide is now shipping the Remix Mini to customers.

5 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Jide Remix by mjc_w · · Score: 5, Informative

    I got one of these from the Kickstarter campaign. It works reasonably well. I haven't tried to do much with it, but as a tiny desktop computer it's OK.

    I had initial problems getting the display to work, because my monitor (a Benq GW1255) only accepted 1080p on its HDMI interface and the Remix output 720p. I first connected the Remix to a monitor that could handle 720p and changed the Remix's display settings, but I finally ended up getting a HDMI to VGA connector (from Amazon by CableMaster, about $10) and it now works fine.

    I use the Remix just for playing around. It prints fine with a Brother driver over my wifi to a 2360DW.

    I use my Apple keyboard (wired) with its attached trackball via USB, and they both work without any problems.

    So far, I like it.

    (Wow - I sure haven't posted in a loooooong time - look at my sig)

    --
    This is the Constitution.This is the Constitution under the Bush administration. Any questions?
  2. Too expensive. by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 4, Informative

    I saw Android 2-in-1s going for 80 last week. And Win10 2-in-1s starting at $100. And those include display/keyboard/trackpad so they're ready to go out of the box. They're not amazingly powerful but neither is this thing. Why would I pay $70 for something in the same class that lacks input devices, a display, and a battery? $25 tops.

  3. Re:cheap fanless server by Blaskowicz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Do you get linux drivers for it?, I mean without 3D acceleration (OpenGL) and without wifi but with wired ethernet still it would be fine ; but if you get a blank screen it's not nice and what such a device maybe lacks is a RS232 port that gives a serial console. I may be unfair here : Mali GPU do get some support but what about the specific SoC?

    If you intend to get a GNU userland running under Android thus negating most driver concerns, then why not, but the underlying Android OS will probably not get timely security updates.

    For all the petty dislikes I may have against the Raspberry Pis, they do get huge community support so you can run straight GNU/Linux or even BSD or other.
    ODROID have some favorable reputation. Banana Pi?
    Some PC hardware is not far at all in price (486 + BIOS or Atom + UEFI).
    Some complete 20 euro solution without special tricks would be great if we just want it to respond to pings, ssh and serve static or better html. I guess we'll get there eventually.
    Android computers are a bit like CP/M of old : they run the same software but CP/M machines needed their own custom BIOS (and warts of the time such as a hundred different floppy formats). End result you get a CP/M version tailored to your hardware and floppy. With MS-DOS machines except early ones the BIOS were compatible (and we ended up with 360KB floppy, 1.2MB, 720kB etc.) so you ran unmodified OS on unmodified machines of any vendor. I think we may get there : we'll have ARM + UEFI little boxes like we have x86 + UEFI ones. (and even MIPS + UEFI, etc.)

    We do have it easy even in the current situation because a lot of things are extremely standardized : USB, eMMC, SD, ethernet, Wifi, HDMI, VGA, PCIe. File systems too. It's beautiful that things can be used without special consideration.

  4. Android? Forget it! by aaaaaaargh! · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sorry, but Android is totally unusable as a desktop operating system. (And I'm not saying that it's particularly usable on phones either.)

    But how about installing some good GNU/Linux on it? Does it run?

    1. Re:Android? Forget it! by aaaaaaargh! · · Score: 4, Informative

      You're missing the point, which is that an "Android Desktop PC" does not have the kind of applications you'd want to have on a desktop PC. This "Remix OS", a slightly modified version of Android, just runs Android apps developed for phones and tablets. To quote the review: "Remix OS does a pretty good job of making some Android apps feel like they were designed for desktop use, but there’s only so much the OS can do if apps don’t play along."