Mini PC - Windows 8.1 - XBMC box with wireless touch Keyboard

Very tempting, as I've been looking at getting an HP Stream Mini to serve as a Kodi box but am balking at the price. Would be curious to hear people's experiences with the Beelink. It's not upgradable like the Stream and only offers wi-fi, but at this price that becomes less of an issue.

One thing that worries me from the review you linked to is the Windows licensing skepticism, especially since we're on the cusp of Windows 10 being rolled out.

I'm also not sure about the price you've posted. When I adjusted the site to Canadian dollars, put it in my cart, and applied the code, I got a total of $132.53.

I have a huge problem with all these "mini PC". I bought a china made one a few months ago, and it worked very well..... until something went wrong, and now there is an error when I boot and I am stuck on the screen. There are no reset buttons on all these mini-PC and it doesn't come with a format USB or something similar, so what do you do when the product needs a format?

DealPanda wrote: ↑I have a huge problem with all these "mini PC". I bought a china made one a few months ago, and it worked very well..... until something went wrong, and now there is an error when I boot and I am stuck on the screen. There are no reset buttons on all these mini-PC and it doesn't come with a format USB or something similar, so what do you do when the product needs a format?

Yes, that's certainly a concern of mine as well. I think when it comes to ordering these types of devices from places like ******** and Geekbuying, you have to accept that if things go wrong, you're pretty much hooped. It's why I almost wonder if I'd be better off getting the Stream Mini, but it's still hard to justify when it also costs almost twice as much as the Beelink.

The combo with promo code is $129.26 CAD.

Sounds to good to be true.
Pictures sounds like computer renderized model, not like real photo of an existing product...

nurddin wrote: ↑Use Promo code: BP1 so some more $ off

comes to $103.21
free standard shipping
and around $4 for 5 - 7 day express shipping.

Note that if you pay for 5-7 day express shipping, it'll be coming DHL. Which means that you'll also get dinged for taxes and DHL fees when it arrives. Depending on the declared value, this will be anywhere from 20-30 bucks due on delivery.

RobertRabbit wrote: ↑Sounds to good to be true.
Pictures sounds like computer renderized model, not like real photo of an existing product...

You can see people holding it in the videos on the page.

Yeah.... Get the Pipo x8 dual boot Windows 8.1 and Android 4.4.4 instead.
It's on sale for $118 for the 64gb version

http://www.********.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_203363.html

Wizard1 wrote: ↑Yeah.... Get the Pipo x8 dual boot Windows 8.1 and Android 4.4.4 instead.
It's on sale for $118 for the 64gb version

The only thing with the Pipo is that it might be annoying with the screen, unless there's a way to turn it off.

BUT, the Pipo has 10/100 ethernet, that this one doesn't have. Though this one has a built in battery, which the Pipo doesn't have. Dilemmas, dilemmas.

Just get the FIRE TV people. Drive down south and grab some FIRE TV's and chicken wings.

Yes the Pipo doesn't have a battery but it does have its own touch screen. You don't have to locate a TV to use it, plus you get office as well. Yes you can turn off the screen Btw.

To each is own but the Beelink looks way better. Small and slick, easily concealable, which is much better than this Pipo when used as a set-top box. The Pipo's form factor is just so weird, if not outright cheap and ugly. And I see no point for a screen in most use cases.

No wired Ethernet. Dealbreaker for me.

I got an hp stream mini desktop for streaming, it was around $219 a while back, with education discount was around $198 I think plus tax. Also came with $25 windows store credit. I popped in another 4 gigs of ram, its an awesome little streaming/play anything box, also is my plex media server. Spent a little more but it should last me a while. The chinese no-name boxes make me a little nervous.

ryecatcher wrote: ↑Very tempting, as I've been looking at getting an HP Stream Mini to serve as a Kodi box but am balking at the price. Would be curious to hear people's experiences with the Beelink. It's not upgradable like the Stream and only offers wi-fi, but at this price that becomes less of an issue.

One thing that worries me from the review you linked to is the Windows licensing skepticism, especially since we're on the cusp of Windows 10 being rolled out.

I'm also not sure about the price you've posted. When I adjusted the site to Canadian dollars, put it in my cart, and applied the code, I got a total of $132.53.

He posted $103.21 US.

The pipo might be great to setup by your TV .... You don't need any other kbds or controller lying around. Walk up to it, tap your movie ... done. Kind of like the concept of it ... or mounting a car, etc.

Either device looks pretty cool.

ryawesome wrote: ↑ The chinese no-name boxes make me a little nervous.

I have a Pipo X7 and a Pipo X8 from ******** and don't have any problems so far, except I don't know how to turn off the screen in the X8.

ryawesome wrote: ↑I got an hp stream mini desktop for streaming, it was around $219 a while back, with education discount was around $198 I think plus tax. Also came with $25 windows store credit. I popped in another 4 gigs of ram, its an awesome little streaming/play anything box, also is my plex media server. Spent a little more but it should last me a while. The chinese no-name boxes make me a little nervous.

Absolutely agree. I had the same debate, and was looking at android boxes, then Chinese Windows based ones.. in the end i just didn't have the confidence in the product. I ended up getting the HP stream mini when it was on sale a few weeks ago @195 from HP directly. It's been great. super smooth streaming (online & from my network HD), has Ethernet or wifi, and runs Kodi well... And i haven't upgraded the RAM yet.

Now i just gotta get a remote, or a wireless keyboard and i'll be set.

raspeed wrote: ↑The pipo might be great to setup by your TV .... You don't need any other kbds or controller lying around. Walk up to it, tap your movie ... done. Kind of like the concept of it ... or mounting a car, etc.

Either device looks pretty cool.

If you are running Kodi/XBMC, just download the app for your phone and use it as remote. No need to walk up to tap to change movies, fast-forward, etc. That's just a pain. So, IMHO, the screen is often pointless.

excellent3 wrote: ↑Absolutely agree. I had the same debate, and was looking at android boxes, then Chinese Windows based ones.. in the end i just didn't have the confidence in the product. I ended up getting the HP stream mini when it was on sale a few weeks ago @195 from HP directly. It's been great. super smooth streaming (online & from my network HD), has Ethernet or wifi, and runs Kodi well... And i haven't upgraded the RAM yet.

Now i just gotta get a remote, or a wireless keyboard and i'll be set.

I got the logitech k40 for around $20 a while back. It's decent enough, keyboard with built in touchpad, but there was a microsoft one a few weeks ago for around $25 that apparently is a lot nicer.