Would You Buy a $50 PC? - Comments Page 1

"Would You Buy a $50 PC?"
Sure! If I could afford it.
But, seriously, I am 74 years of age and I have literally no idea how to choose an app nor download it. I have had a polaroid tablet for over a year and all I can do with it is emails. So I am just one of those folks that has to have a regular computer. But boy, that price is sure tempting. Best regards, john.

Bob, this sounds very intriguing to me, but how do the input devices (which would be very necessary) connect? Will the TV need other inputs, or is a wireless reciever built into the unit as well? Im assuming that all the apps must run in the cloud, or do the new smart tvs have provision for user defined USB storage?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You can use a wireless keyboard and mouse (most convenient option), but some have USB ports where you can plug in the mouse and/or keyboard.

android based? not interested. i've got an IPhone and over the last year, ordered two android tablets - Polaroid and Vizio, and have been disappointed in how clumsy, unituitive and awkward android is to use on these devices... one cost $50, the other $89 (both from WOOT). i know that they are not powerful machines for those prices, but i do not think the issue is the innards of the machines, it is the inelegance of the OS... IMHO! and never again...

Sounds great. Need to identify the right supplier so I can get one posted to Australia. So 2 questions:
1. How exactly does this attach to a tv?
2. Who supplies at $50? It's about $82 on Amazon.

Will appreciate your advice. PS I'm 70 - if you don't try new things you just get left behind !!

EDITOR'S NOTE: The device plugs into the HDMI port of your TV. Here's one for $42:

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/mini-mk802-android-4-0-google-tv-box-hd-iptv-player-pc-allwinner-a10/237117758.html?listingId=290276270

Connect a usb hard drive? My $129 tablet won't let that happen.

Bob, I like your columns because you are frank and avoid hype. But -- it is hype to call this a "fully-functional computer" since it does not have the human interface (keyboard, mouse, display). Please go back to your old self and tell it like it is.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Really? How many "computers" come with a keyboard, mouse, and display? I suppose if you buy a laptop or an all-in-one PC, maybe? But every computer I've bought since 1990 required the separate purchase of a keyboard, mouse, and display! I think you're getting hung up on the size of the device, because that's the only real difference.

Thanks Bob!

Any pointers on how to change the OS from Android to Linux. Having used both I much prefer Ubuntu to Android, it just seems more 'what I do to it' than Android's 'what it does to me'.

Thanks again,

Jon

Don't forget the Raspberry Pi it is a $40.00 Linux PC coupled to a micro controller.

Since 1999 I have bought dozens of Desktops, those up to the mid 2000, ie 2005 all came with a wired KB, mouse and speakers, some even with klunky monitors.
Later ones eliminated the speakersand monitors but all of them to this day came with a wired KB and mouse, more expensive with wireless mouse.

Perhaps you are talking about gaming computers, some of those still come with high quality KB and mice.

Very interesting Bob, thank you.

I've got an Android phone and an Android tablet, both Samsung - Galaxy SII phone and Galaxy 10.1 Tab 2, and I'm very pleased with both. So pleased I have been wondering how to get Android as an OS on a PC for a year and a half or so. Now I know. All I have to work on is some storage without paying an arm and a leg for upwards of 400gb.

It has Input, Output, a CPU, and memory. By George, it's a computer!!!

Nigel, seen this? 1TB battery operated Lacie HD:
http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?id=10618

I just got a Samsung Smart TV and can get Netflix, Amazon Instant Videos, Gmail and all those other things with it...is there any reason this would be worth adding to that TV? Ease of use? I'm 70, fairly computer savvy, and love all new technology.

I presume it has permanent memory... if so, how much?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Most models have some internal storage for files, some add an SD card for that.

Bob this is Soldout:http://www.rakuten.com/prod/mini-mk802-android-4-0-google-tv-box-hd-iptv-player-pc-allwinner-a10/237117758.html?listingId=290276270... Any other suggestions for I like to know... Thanks...

I can't keep up with the various CPU designations for Android devices, but when I search for MK802 I get a lot of devices with Allwinner A10 1GHz Cortex-A8 as the processor. That's what the device on Rakuten linked at the end of the comment fromt WayneH shows. From what I can tell, that's a slow, single core cpu. If I have this figured out right, you have to search for MK802 IV to see the newer quad-core versions, and those seem to run $80 or more.

Like I said, I'm no expert with these CPUs, so be kind if I got this wrong :)

Intriguing. I'd buy one in a minute. External hard drives can be picked up cheap on sale, as can a wireless kb/mouse combo. You can print via air/wifi. I'm going shopping! Too bad it can't run our ERP client or I'd try a couple at work.

This sound very interesting. The idea sound like a little tablet that use the TV screen as its screen. And everything is done on the TV screen like a touch pad. But how does the touch part comes in if the TV does not have a touch sensor screen?

I was wondering when Android was going to send out a computer? I try to load the Android OS on a PC but no luck. I think Google/Android need to build a real OS for PC and not just what it try to emulate. They need a OS that can be put on a new computer without an OS.

this is very interesting cause sometimes I just want to check email and read my paper online....wondering if some simple online game sites would work but maybe not cause they probably need flash or something

A laser projection virtual keyboard/ mouse might be a good match for the mini-PC, particularly when using a TV without a touch screen.
The Brookstone and Celluon virtual keyboards are only slightly larger than the mini-PCs, and are bluetooth-enabled for Apple and Android.