HDMI Stick that runs full Windows!

[slickam]

Gotta say, as cool as it is windows 8.1 is not a selling point for most people I know.

Luckily a Linux vérsion is coming at the end of the quarter for $90!

I wonder why the Windows version of the stick costs $150 given that it comes with "Windows 8.1 with Bing" version which Microsoft gives to OEMs for free.
http://www.howtogeek.com/195934/what-exactly-is-windows-8.1-with-bing-do-i-have-to-use-bing/

The Windows version has 2GB of RAM and 32 of built in storage compared to the 1GB of RAM and 16GB that the Linux version has.

[stripe4]

The Windows version has 2GB of RAM and 32 of built in storage compared to the 1GB of RAM and 16GB that the Linux version has.

Checked some onther news source, and this really happens to be the case. Odd decision, especially on RAM.
Anyway, really curious to see some MAME benchmarks for both versions of the device. I'm confident it has to be more usable than Raspberry Pi.

[nitrogen_widget]

Because they can charge the premium and make more profit -- the general consumer does not yet realize that the 8.1 OEM license is given to  the OEM free and since the cheapest version that the same consumer can get for themselves is $100+(Since MS doesn't let the end user download that same version to use for themselves and instead tries to get them for the $100 profit itself) the consumers see it as an added benefit and are willing to pay a higher price for it - so the OEM obliges and charges the fee !

Consumers typically do not see how much Microsoft charges an OEM for a Windows license. It's cases like these when a PC is offered with either Windows or Linux, one can estimate that number from the price difference.
In this case Windows license costs nothing, and I would even say that the OEM is being charged some money for Linux (someone had to tailor a distro for the stick).
I would even argue that it is actually Microsoft who is being ripped off here most. The Windows license is being given to an OEM at no charge with an intent to make the end product more attractive (cheaper) to a consumer when compared to Chromebooks, Androids on a stick, or notebooks with Ubuntu preinstalled, and not as means for an OEM to make more profit.

Bing is worse than google.
It not only tracks what you search for online but also tracks what you search for on your PC so it can present you with ads based on those searches.
Last I read, you can turn it off, if you can find the option but it will turn itself back on eventually without you knowing it.

Microsoft is not losing anything by giving this version of windows away.

[stripe4]

Bing is worse than google.

Not in every aspect, I hear video search is quite good for certain types of queries.

It not only tracks what you search for online but also tracks what you search for on your PC so it can present you with ads based on those searches.
Last I read, you can turn it off, if you can find the option but it will turn itself back on eventually without you knowing it.

Microsoft is not losing anything by giving this version of windows away.

Well, you'll end up in the same boat if you install a purchased copy of Windows and accept all the defaults during the setup process. I know where to adjust these settings, it's the majority of people around me who don't. And Microsoft knows it.

duckduckgo.com FTW!

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Hey guys, I have the Asus T100, which has the slightly faster sibling of this Atom cpu in it. 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, Win 8.1 32-bit.

I've been sitting here the last hour or so with it hooked up to my monitor via HDMI and running random Mame titles (Mameui 32-bit, v.155), just to see how it goes.  Right off the bat, none of these sticks run 64-bit Windows, so you lose that speed boost.  Mame runs, and runs most things well (even MK2), but naturally you can forget about the upper-end titles (anything 3D) and games with unoptimized and/or challenging drivers (the newer Cave shooters).

You can also forget about HLSL. It generally cripples run speed, even when I'm just running on the tablet's native res (720p) - so it's particularly bad at 1080: Ms. Pac Man runs at 66% with HLSL on, and jumps up to 1000%+ unthrottled, so you know it's HLSL causing the slowdown. (Edit - by the way, this is with Bloom effects turned OFF. It's even worse with bloom enabled.)

I also seem to be having an issue with random crashes while trying to use the Mameui effects but that may just be me.  No VGA, so no SLG either, I believe?

It'll probably fare better with console emulators, and Dolphin, because Dolphin seems to run on any damn thing (... yes that was a joke) but personally I'm spoiled by HLSL for home use (less important on the tablet when I'm on the road) so this isn't going to work for me. YMMV.

[nitrogen_widget]

Bing is worse than google.

Not in every aspect, I hear video search is quite good for certain types of queries.

It not only tracks what you search for online but also tracks what you search for on your PC so it can present you with ads based on those searches.
Last I read, you can turn it off, if you can find the option but it will turn itself back on eventually without you knowing it.

Microsoft is not losing anything by giving this version of windows away.

Well, you'll end up in the same boat if you install a purchased copy of Windows and accept all the defaults during the setup process. I know where to adjust these settings, it's the majority of people around me who don't. And Microsoft knows it.

duckduckgo.com FTW!

When I said bing was worse than google I meant in the way it remembers everything you search for then inserts that in random ads everywhere you go online.

As a search engine I have no opinion and have actually used duckduckgo.
linux distro's with midori use it as the default search engine.

[Locke141]

OSX is UNIX (BSD specifically) with a pretty shell over the top. 

Kind of but not really. OSX uses Darwin not BSD. Darwin is based off of BSD but instead of a monolithic Kernel like BSD does or a micro kernel, Darwin uses a hybrid kernel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_(operating_system)

I was a window's user from 3.1 till XP. After a week of using a mac for work I started to save my money to get one. That said, I just ordered a PC from arrow direct to my brothers in the US and I asked my Dad to pick up a cheep winBook tablet that has very similar specks to this stick. It will never again be my fist  or even my second choice in an OS but for the price point you can sometimes find a good deal, I am willing to put up with it.
                 

[elvis]

More and more of these small x86 devices appearing:

http://linuxgizmos.com/tiny-fanless-mini-pc-runs-linux-on-quad-core-amd-soc/

[ark_ader]

I won't sit here and tell you about my HP Stream 7 (which is currently running .137 like ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- through a goose) but more about how I am running a $17 gamestick via my Server 2012 RDP and X2 that is supporting .137 with respectable frame rates.  Think of these HDMI stick devices as clients.  No more, no less and work from there.  That would be an ample challenge in true BYOAC style for anyone to attempt.