Crowdfunded “Mi Mini PC” Windows 10 Mobile PC remains undelivered after 3 years

Mi-Mini-PC-Fail

Crowdfunding can be fun, but also risky for backers, especially when backing projects from startups. There are many such examples of projects gone bad, and last year we noted TAIHE Gemini portable display was another crowdfunding campaign gone wrong despite raising over one million dollars. Today, I’d like to reiterate this warning with “Mi Mini PC“, a pocket-size Windows 10 Mobile PC that was introduced on Indiegogo and raised a cool 1.5 million dollars. Note that the “Mi” here is completely unrelated to Xiaomi, and the product was developed by a company with the now-unreachable  mipcworld.com website. There were early red flags shorting after the launch of the campaign with the developer making unrealistic claims about a free upgrade from Atom x7 to Core M3-7Y30, and no pictures of an actual prototype. But somebody just left a comment on the CNX Software article that there was still nothing. So I […]

One Netbook A1 7-inch laptop features Ethernet and COM port for IT Pros

One Netbook A1

We’ve seen many Intel-powered mini-laptops with 6 to 9-inch display in the last coupled of years mainly from GPD and One Netbook, but also CHUWI. Most models are tinier versions of ultrabooks with wireless-only connectivity, but last year GPD MicroPC 6-inch mini-laptop added Ethernet and RS-232 COM port for IT professionals such as sysadmins. But there’s now another option with One Netbook A1 equipped with a 7-inch display, powered by an Intel Core m3-8100Y Amber Lake processor, and also featuring Ethernet and COM ports, plus the usual USB and HDMI ports. One Netbook A1 specifications: SoC – Intel Core m3-8100Y dual-core/quad-thread Amber Lake processor @ 1.1 / 3.4 (Turbo) GHz with Intel UHD Graphics 615; 5W TDP System Memory – 8GB RAM Storage – 256GB or 512GB M.2 SSD; microSD card slot Display – 7-inch touchscreen IPS LCD with 1920 x 1200 resolution IPS LCD;  support for stylus with 4096 […]

CHUWI UBook Pro is a Low-Cost Alternative to Microsoft Surface Pro 6 with an Intel m3-8100Y Processor (Crowdfunding)

Introduction UBook Pro The latest 2-in-1 tablet/laptop from CHUWI, is the UBook Pro, that the Chinese manufacturer hopes will rival the Microsoft Surface Pro 6. CHUWI Background The company has been manufacturing tablet/laptop computers since 2013. They targeted the mobile office industry with the UBook, and now the UBook Pro, with focus on versatility, quality, performance, and portability. Processor Improvements UBook Pro has some interesting enhancements to their original tablet. The processor is the first big change, being an upgrade from an Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor of the previous UBook tablet, to a high-efficiency 8th Gen Intel Core m3-8100Y processor with a claimed overall increase in performance of 50% compared to the original UBook tablets. Display Ability The 12.3-inch FHD IPS full lamination screen has a 3:2 ratio, which can be found on the Surface Pro, HUAWEI Matebook and others, delivers a vivid picture with exceptional resolution. The design is […]

MAG1 Intel Core m3-8100Y Mini Laptop Sells for $590 and up in China

MAG1 Intel Core m3-8100Y Mini Laptop

In recent years, we’ve seen mini laptops with sub-9″ displays from companies like GPD, One Mix, and CHUWI featuring Intel Gemini Lake or Amber Lake processors.  There’s another company joining the fray with MAG1 “Magic Small” mini laptop with an 8.9″ display, an Intel Core m3-8100Y Amber Lake processor coupled with 8GB or 16GB RAM, and 256GB or 512GB SSD storage that’s currently selling for 4,199 RMB (~$593 US) and up on JD.com. MAG1 specifications: SoC – Intel Core m3-8100Y dual-core/quad-thread Amber Lake processor @ 1.1 / 3.4 (Turbo) GHz with Intel UHD Graphics 615; 5W TDP System Memory / Storage Configurations 8GB DDR3 RAM + 256GB PCIe SSD + MicroSD slot 16GB DDR3 RAM + 512GB PCIe SSD + MicroSD slot Display – 8.9″ IPS touchscreen display with 2560 x 1600 resolution Video Output – Micro HDMI up to 4K @ 60 Hz Audio – Built-in microphone, 3.5mm audio […]

GPD P2 Max 8.9″ Ultrabook Launched on Indiegogo for $530 and Up

GPD P2 Max

The previously unveiled GPD Pocket 2 Max has now launched on Indiegogo under the name GPD P2 Max. The mini laptop, which the company refers to as an Ultrabook, is powered by an Intel Core m3-8100Y Amber Lake processor coupled with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage and features an 8.9″ high-resolution touchscreen display. Beside the Amber Lake processor, the company is also offering a lower cost model with an Intel Celeron 3965Y Kaby Lake-Y processor going for $530 in Indiegogo, against the $705 asked for the Intel Core m3-8100Y Ultrabook. GPD P2 Max Ultrabook specifications: SoC (one or the other) Intel Celeron 3965Y dual-core Kaby Lake processor @ 1.50 GHz with Intel HD graphics 615; 6W TDP Intel Core m3-8100Y dual-core/quad-thread Amber Lake processor @ 1.1 / 3.4 (Turbo) GHz with 24EU Intel UHD Graphics 615; 5W TDP, but configured with TDP-up @ 8W System Memory & […]

CHUWI Minibook Amber Lake mini Laptop to sell for $499 and Up (Crowdfunding)

CHUWI Minibook

We’ve already covered several Intel Amber Lake mini laptops with the likes of One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga or GPD Pocket 2 Max both powered by Intel Core m3-8100Y and equipped with respectively 8.4″ and 8.9″ displays with 2560×1600 resolution. Those are ultra-compact yet powerful machines, which come at a relatively high cost, with for instance the Mix 3 Yoga going for about $760. But there’s another model coming up with CHUWI minibook with similar specifications and an 8″ display that will be offered for as low as $499. The trick is that only 300 pieces part of the “Super Early Birds Perk” will be available at that price when the product launches on Indiegogo on June 19. The retail price should be around $669 since the discount is said to be around 25%. There will also be a cheaper Intel Celeron N4100 Gemini Lake model, but price has […]

One Mix 3 Yoga 8.4″ Mini Laptop is up for Pre-order for $760

One Mix 3 Yoga Pocket Laptop

In recent years we’ve seen several companies launch “mini laptops” with small 6″ to 7″ displays. They have the advantages of being really compact and lightweight, and thanks to Intel Gemini Lake & Amber Lake processors can be fairly powerful. The problem is that with small displays come small keyboards, and people have had a hard type typing text on those. So we’ve started seeing announcements for mini laptops with 8″ to 8.9″ displays such as GPD Pocket 2 Max and CHUWI minibook that should make like easier at the cost of a slightly larger and heavier devices. One Mix 3 Yoga appears to be one the first of those ultra mobile PCs for sale, or more exactly pre-order. You’ll find the pocket laptop on GeekBuying for $759.99 with shipping scheduled for next month. One Netbook One Mix 3 Yoga specifications: SoC – Intel Core m3-8100Y dual-core/quad-thread Amber Lake processor […]

More Intel Processor HW Security Flaws. Meet Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS)

Intel MDS Zombieload, RIDL, Fallout

2018 did not start so well for processor vendors, especially Intel, but also AMD, Arm and others as some of their processors leveraging speculative execution were impacted by Spectre and/or Meltdown hardware security bugs. The workarounds to improve security had a downside as they affected performance in some specific use case. Panic ensued as the bug was revealed to the public a bit too early, so companies were not fully ready with their mitigations / workarounds. Then in summer of 2018, another hardware security flaw known as Foreshadow or L1 Terminal Fault came to light. The new flaw potentially enabled the attacker to access data stored in L1 cache.  Provided you have updated your operating systems to the latest version, your computers and devices should be protected against those vulnerabilities, and you can even check with a script working in Linux or FreeBSD. But this now looks like a never […]

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