Android Mini PCs: A Sub-€100 Computer Challenge

A PC for Under €100: Possible, But Not How You Imagine

Yes, you can get a functional computer for less than €100. However, be aware that this device will look nothing like the traditional desktop tower many envision. The most common solution to this challenge is not a classic PC, but an Android mini PC the size of a TV remote, or a Raspberry Pi board costing $35 that requires self-assembly. The initial goal was modest: web browsing, YouTube, basic office tasks, messaging, downloads, and movies. After dozens of responses, the conclusion is that while hardware exists for these tasks, not all hardware is suitable.

The Android Mini PC: €51 and Three Weeks Wait

The format that dominated the discussion was the MK802, a device running Android 4.0 with an Allwinner A10 Cortex A8 processor, 1 GB RAM, and 4 GB storage, connecting via HDMI to any TV. Prices seen in eBay auctions were $51.01 and €51.27, with shipping from Asia taking about three weeks. A model with a remote control also appeared for $59.

The user experience upon receipt was mixed. The gadget boots up, runs Angry Birds smoothly, and plays video via HDMI with acceptable integrated sound quality. However, CPU usage does not drop below 30-40% with just one app open, and Wi-Fi file transfer speeds reached only 0.6 MB/s compared to 1.57 MB/s on a conventional laptop. For HD video streaming, this bottleneck is significant.

The Raspberry Pi: $35 and a Checklist

The other option is the British $35 board, which requires a keyboard, mouse, monitor or TV, at least a 4 GB SD card, and a 5V microUSB power supply. It does not come with built-in Wi-Fi; you must add a USB dongle or use Ethernet. Its main advantage is low power consumption, staying under 5 watts with an 875 mA adapter. The problem lies in graphical performance: it decodes 1080p via hardware, but the X server runs "sluggishly," according to users who had it working with Debian.

Delivery queues were another source of frustration: reports mentioned 11 weeks wait time at ordering and actual delivery times of about 10 weeks from the UK. There was also suspicion that major manufacturers were slow to supply the market to avoid cannibalizing their netbook sales.

Second-hand PCs: Discarded Due to Electricity Bills

The used market offers complete towers for €53 and €60, antiestéticaturing Pentium IV processors, 256 MB or 2 GB RAM, and 40 GB disks, sometimes including a one-year warranty. These are sufficient for browsing and office work. The issue isn't the purchase price, but power consumption. Towers from that generation exceed 100-150 watts, making them expensive to run for downloading or as media centers. In contrast, a second-hand Atom-based netbook consumes 15 watts with the screen on.

An intermediate alternative emerged: a new netbook for €99, with an Atom N270, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB disk, and Wi-Fi, capable of handling internet, office apps, and Windows 7 without fuss.

The Real Limit: Office Software and Closed Apps

The hurdle no one fully resolved was software. ARM architecture lacks Windows and desktop Office; the path forward is Google Docs or Android office suites. Skype, being Microsoft property distributed only as binary, remains problematic, and mini PCs often lack microphone inputs. Binary compatibility between ARM and x86 is non-existent without recompilation.

With these constraints, the prediction has a caveat: the mini PC and ARM format will capture much of the low-power domestic usage but won't displace x86 in workstations or areas dependent on closed applications. Meanwhile, anyone wanting a true computer for under €100 must choose between paying in electricity or paying in patience.