Most Cherry Trail mini PCs launched on the market are powered by Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor, and few have been announced with x5-Z8500 or x7-X8700 processors which are more powerful, and do not cost that much more based on Intel’s recommended customer price. Foxconn Kangaroo is one of these mini PCs with an Atom x5-Z8500, 2GB RAM, and 32GB eMMC, which has a bonus includes a fingerprint scanner, and sells for $99 on Newegg.
Foxconn Kangaroo specifications:
- Processor – Intel Atom x5-Z8500 Processor @ 1.44 GHz (up to 2.24 GHz) with 2M Cache and Intel Gen8 Graphics
- System Memory – 2GB LPDDR3
- Storage – 32GB eMMC + micro SD slot
- Video & Audio Output – HDMI
- Connectivity – Wi-Fi 802.11ac & Bluetooth 4.0
- USB – 1x micro USB port (for charging only), 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
- Misc – Fingerprint reader, 40-pin proprietary Kangaroo adapter, power button
- Battery Life – 4 hours
- Power Supply – 12V/3A
- Dimensions – 80.5 x 157.7 x 12.9 mm (Including dock: 80.5 x 46.9 x 12.9mm)
- Weight – 200g (without adapter & power cord) / 470g (including adapter & power cord)
The mini PC is pre-loaded with Windows 10 64-bit Home, and since it sells on Newegg, it’s probably a safe bet to assume it’s an activated version. The computer will ship with the 100V~220V power adapter and cable, and the “Kangaroo dock.
I don’t really see the purpose of this separate dock (Please somebody enlightened me! So they plan to offer different versions of the dock, and you could have one at home and one at the office) , but without it, you would not have HDMI, USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports nor DC input, and have a headless system without useful connectors except the micro SD slot. Kangaroo can also be used as a power bank and external USB storage, and the company also provides OSLinx app in order to use an iPad as an external display via a USB to Lightning cable.
If you are interested in the difference between x5-Z8300 and x5-Z8500 processor, check out the comparison on Intel website, with the key differences being a higher burst frequency for the CPU (2.24GHz vs 1.84GHz) and the GPU (600MHz vs 500MHz) and Intel Wireless Display support. Other noticeable differences such as memory support up to 8GB, and more PCI Express lanes are also interesting, but not relevant to this product.
I could not find Foxconn Kangaroo on Aliexpress, nor eBay, so it’s likely only available in the US right now. More details may be available on Kangaroo.cc, and if you plan on getting an extra dock it will sell for $39 (currently out of stock).
Via Ian Morrison on Google+ Mini PCs community
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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So Foxconn does these or “InFocus 🙂 ?
Docking: they plan to offer several other docking stations, with various ports.
And with two of these you could just carry the “computing unit” with you and connect it to you “dock at home” or “dock at the office” – combined with the internal battery you could open a document at home and finish it at the office.
@Mike
Once Foxconn Hong Kong sent me an InFocus tablet -> http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/12/06/allwinner-a83t-tablet-unboxing-first-boot-and-benchmarks/
So InFocus must be a brand name used by Foxconn.
Thanks for the info about the dock.
just lack a touchscreen and broadband chipset to make a tablet/cellphone/computer transformable 😀
What about Linux support? These days i’m looking for the perfect thin client to be used with remote-viewer to connect to SPICE VM as part of my desktop VDI project.
@cnxsoft
It’s a more complicated relationship … InFocus uses Foxconn exclusively to develop their tablets, smartphones and whatever but it seems they’re different entities.
I have an InFocus M810 smartphone for which I’m trying to get the source according to the GPL and InFocus informed me they’ll contact the manufacturer ( Foxconn ).
There may be multiple companies called InFocus, but in this case, it’s a company that’s been around for 30 years and is known for making digital whiteboards and projectors.
You can see a link to the Kangaroo mini-site linked from here:
http://www.infocus.com
The big advantage I see for the Z8500 vs. the Z8300 is dual-channel RAM which (I hope) would make a big difference for the on-chip video and graphics. Has anyone seen any benchmarks?
this coverage of what Foxconn is does not mention InFocus as a Foxconn subsidiary:
http://analyse.asia/2015/10/29/episode-70-the-foxconn-group-with-tim-culpan/
Why they don´t offer it in a 4GB RAM version?
I can´t get it.
Kangaroo mini PC review @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ftwY6s4WQ8
The YouTube description reads as:
I own this thing. Can confirm that it is using the memory in a dual-channel configuration. If you are buying this you have to understand that it will not do much of anything “fast”. But it will do most normal desktop functions and movie viewing “well”. You will definitely want to use a microSD card or USB flash storage option if you’re okay with giving up a USB port. Windows 10 takes up almost half the drive by itself. Out of the box the new version of Windows 10 deployed, which took about 40 minutes.
The unit does get hot, but it isn’t throwing any errors or shutting off, so I guess it’s within parameters. The finger print scanner oddly enough works better than the ones on anything else I’ve owned over the years. The 2GB of RAM will be a limiting spec for many, and a deal breaker for some, but so far I have been able to run Chrome with multiple tabs and Kodi (XBMC) without a hitch. Haven’t tried a single game, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use it for older games or emulators if that’s your bag.
Fun fact: I have a micro USB charger plugged into the port on the side instead of the power supply it ships with. I’m using a 5V 2A charger, and so far the battery hasn’t gone under 100%.
Throw me whatever questions you have about it I’ll be glad to answer.
Wonder how well this would work hooked up to a Lapdock of some kind. I have the Bionic lapdock with no Bionic and recently my Atrix 2 has been finicky about working properly with it. Switching to an Intel-based machine to get a neat netbook with acceptable battery life would interest me.
@Jay
I have the kangaroo and the lapdock and it works perfectly…what reaaaaaaally wish I could find is the proper cables to attach both the usb hub and the hdmi port at the same time….
@Andrew
What charger are you using? I have used a couple and my unit depletes just as fast as if I had the power brick unplugged…
I am a bit surprised that I am not seeing any posts/articles/videos from folks that have installed a Linux distro on this device — even though the few comments do hint that it is possible and easy 🙂 Assuming that it is, I am curious about whether there is a ‘bootup’ option that allows one to make UEFI changes (turn off secure boot?) or activate ‘legacy boot’ — either of which should theoretically allow Linux installation? It sounds like there is not a lot of spare room for a Linux install…
Kangaroo Plus is an upgrade with 4GB RAM / 64GB eMMC. $170 on Newegg @ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856659001
@Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Does the unit have an auto power on function (in the bios)- Ie, I need the PC to auto start the moment i plug in a charger/mains.
Thanks
@Andrew
So its running on just 5v 2a? Thats amazing! I have been hoping this would work for a project I’m working on. Is that with or without the doc? If its with the doc are you using it via hdmi?