MK808 Dual Core Android 4.1 Jelly Bean mini PC for $49.99 + FS @ geekbuying.com

I bought this but not happy with WiFi Connection.

Quote from Larron : I didn't ignore it. I said the Chinese sticks were for more technical users. For those that aren't as technical, products like the Archos will be a better choice. It's not an apt to compare Chinese Android sticks to Chinese tablets. Portable devices require a much higher level of build quality to function for any length of time. Android sticks do not. These Android sticks are super cheap, almost disposable at $35. For folks with a bit of technical acumen, they are a fine product. In fact, compared to the name brand products that cost 4 times more, one might even call them a Slick Deal.

It has nothing to do with being "more technical." It has everything to do with Chinese sticks being beta quality on the best days. You recognize that build quality matters in tablets but give a pass to PC sticks with rampant wifi, overheating, etc issues? The OP is $50 not $35. Quad-cores are $100.

You are comparing these to "the name brand products that cost 4 times more" meaning these Chinese PC sticks have reached "generic" status. "Generic" implies the product actually works. This isn't like Insignia rebadging Samsung TV's. This is like Insignia making their own TV, it has serious functional issues, and you claiming it is just like a Samsung. So no, this is not a slick deal.

Quote from sd444 : It has nothing to do with being "more technical." It has everything to do with Chinese sticks being beta quality on the best days. You recognize that build quality matters in tablets but give a pass to PC sticks with rampant wifi, overheating, etc issues? The OP is $50 not $35. Quad-cores are $100. You are comparing these to "the name brand products that cost 4 times more" meaning these Chinese PC sticks have reached "generic" status. "Generic" implies the product actually works. This isn't like Insignia rebadging Samsung TV's. This is like Insignia making their own TV, it has serious functional issues, and you claiming it is just like a Samsung. So no, this is not a slick deal.

You clearly haven't bothered to read my posts. I don't actually recommend this $50 stick, I recommend the 3rd generation, $35, single core sticks like the MK802 ii.

You're just dead wrong about the quality. The 3rd generation sticks fixed the overheating problems. My 3rd gen stays at 85 to 90deg F even when playing 1080p video for hours. The 3rd generations sticks have adequate RAM, they have WiFi that works for most people. They reliably play hardware accelerated video with a number of players.

For me, for a lot of users, there is absolutely no benefit in paying 4 times more for a product with identical features or with features that we'll never use. I didn't recommend the 1st or 2nd generation sticks, they were hacker-only affairs.

I do recommend the 3rd gen for those with some technical ability, though not for users who want plug-and-play. As I posted above, non-technical users are probably better off paying 4 times more for a product that requires less hand holding.

Quote from Larron : You clearly haven't bothered to read my posts. I don't actually recommend this $50 stick, I recommend the 3rd generation, $35, single core sticks like the MK802 ii. You're just dead wrong about the quality. The 3rd generation sticks fixed the overheating problems. My 3rd gen stays at 85 to 90deg F even when playing 1080p video for hours. The 3rd generations sticks have adequate RAM, they have WiFi that works for most people. They reliably play hardware accelerated video with a number of players. For me, for a lot of users, there is absolutely no benefit in paying 4 times more for a product with identical features or with features that we'll never use. I didn't recommend the 1st or 2nd generation sticks, they were hacker-only affairs. I do recommend the 3rd gen for those with some technical ability, though not for users who want plug-and-play. As I posted above, non-technical users are probably better off paying 4 times more for a product that requires less hand holding.

My point is your price argument rapidly falls apart for anything more than $35. Even you recognize this.

You aren't making an apple to apple comparison with the archos device. Great that you assign zero value to everything beyond the bare hardware but most people would appreciate some better QA and polish. When you take out these features you are barely at 2x the price for the QA and polish instead of your exaggerated "4 times more." Archos won't be the only brand but just the start and those prices will hit <$60 pricing. You mentioned HDMI passthrough / MPAA because even you can see the inevitable worthlessness once actual OEM's start making these. The chinese sticks are going to have to do something (most likely add sketchy features) or chase spec advancements to stay relevant.

Quote from sd444 : My point is your price argument rapidly falls apart for anything more than $35. Even you recognize this. You aren't making an apple to apple comparison with the archos device. Great that you assign zero value to everything beyond the bare hardware but most people would appreciate some better QA and polish. When you take out these features you are barely at 2x the price for the QA and polish instead of your exaggerated "4 times more." Archos won't be the only brand but just the start and those prices will hit <$60 pricing. You mentioned HDMI passthrough / MPAA because even you can see the inevitable worthlessness once actual OEM's start making these. The chinese sticks are going to have to do something (most likely add sketchy features) or chase spec advancements to stay relevant.

Yes, absolutely! The low $35 price is the core of my argument. It's so cheap it's almost disposable, yet it does most of what devices costing over $100 more and does it well. When that Archos finally ships, I won't be surprised if stable, 3rd generation Android sticks are down to $20.

You say these devices overheat and are crap. You are wrong. Some of these $35 devices that are fully functional, don't overheat, have working WiFi and can play 1080p video all day long without issue. They don't fall apart, they don't need a lot of support, they just work.

Further, they are nearly $100 cheaper than the name-brand versions like that Archos. For a lot of folks, those name brand devices will offer no more functionality. Most won't use the webcam, the mic, the wired Ethernet port. For most folks, those features will be as useful as a built-in pancake flipper. They'll be paying for something they're not using.

Yes, the Chinese sticks will have to keep up with the feature race to stay relevant. Exactly which tech products don't have to do this? They may even adopt features that the name brand companies are too scared to adopt. As I posted above, the US Supreme Court made it absolutely clear that home recording is legal. The MPAA didn't like that ruling and continues to sue companies that make home recording devices. That doesn't make those features "sketchy", it's only a testament to the terribly outsized power of certain lobbyists in the US. FWIW, the US consumer tech industry is many, many, many times larger than all the member companies of the MPAA. The tail is very much wagging the dog.

Quote from Larron : Yes, absolutely! The low $35 price is the core of my argument. It's so cheap it's almost disposable, yet it does most of what devices costing over $100 more and does it well. When that Archos finally ships, I won't be surprised if stable, 3rd generation Android sticks are down to $20. You say these devices overheat and are crap. You are wrong. Some of these $35 devices that are fully functional, don't overheat, have working WiFi and can play 1080p video all day long without issue. They don't fall apart, they don't need a lot of support, they just work. Further, they are nearly $100 cheaper than the name-brand versions like that Archos. For a lot of folks, those name brand devices will offer no more functionality. Most won't use the webcam, the mic, the wired Ethernet port. For most folks, those features will be as useful as a built-in pancake flipper. They'll be paying for something they're not using. Yes, the Chinese sticks will have to keep up with the feature race to stay relevant. Exactly which tech products don't have to do this? They may even adopt features that the name brand companies are too scared to adopt. As I posted above, the US Supreme Court made it absolutely clear that home recording is legal. The MPAA didn't like that ruling and continues to sue companies that make home recording devices. That doesn't make those features "sketchy", it's only a testament to the terribly outsized power of certain lobbyists in the US. FWIW, the US consumer tech industry is many, many, many times larger than all the member companies of the MPAA. The tail is very much wagging the dog.

Latin is there a reason why all of the mid to upper level Android devices come with at least dual core processors? Do you own a top flight Android device? If you follow Google and the Nexus line you will consistently hear about the true Android experience. A single core no longer provides this. I have read tons of comments about these 3Rd gen single core sticks and people are complaining about the Web browsing and lag scrolling from screen to screen. Plus the lack of ability to players advanced games. Remember the apps that come out are going to be more and more demanding.

Also when you really listen to the people who vouch for these things they usually don't have too much experience with Android and don't know what the true Android experience should be.

Quote from fireballs : Latin is there a reason why all of the mid to upper level Android devices come with at least dual core processors? Do you own a top flight Android device? If you follow Google and the Nexus line you will consistently hear about the true Android experience. A single core no longer provides this. I have read tons of comments about these 3Rd gen single core sticks and people are complaining about the Web browsing and lag scrolling from screen to screen. Plus the lack of ability to players advanced games. Remember the apps that come out are going to be more and more demanding. Also when you really listen to the people who vouch for these things they usually don't have too much experience with Android and don't know what the true Android experience should be.

I'm on probably my 8th or 10th Android device, I've lost count. My current phone is the best, fastest Android phone on the market (IMHO), the Note II.

I know from good and bad Android experiences. Is a single core 3rd gen Chinese Android stick in any way comparable to a quad-core Exynos-powered Galaxy Note 2? No, Absolutely not.

As a tool for playing 1080p video is it equally functional? Yes, it Absolutely is, and at roughly 1/15th the cost of a Galaxy Note 2, it's a bargain. Which is my point. It's not an everything device, but for playing video, there's no difference. It does the job, it does the job well, and at a price nothing else can begin to touch.

Quote from Larron : I'm on probably my 8th or 10th Android device, I've lost count. My current phone is the best, fastest Android phone on the market (IMHO), the Note II. I know from good and bad Android experiences. Is a single core 3rd gen Chinese Android stick in any way comparable to a quad-core Exynos-powered Galaxy Note 2? No, Absolutely not. As a tool for playing 1080p video is it equally functional? Yes, it Absolutely is, and at roughly 1/15th the cost of a Galaxy Note 2, it's a bargain. Which is my point. It's not an everything device, but for playing video, there's no difference. It does the job, it does the job well, and at a price nothing else can begin to touch.

Why get the Note 2 if price is more important than quality? There are a ton of lower level phones that could be had for less.

So how difficult it will be to use as game console? Like connecting ps3 controller and playing games at 1080p

Quote from raheeldm : So how difficult it will be to use as game console? Like connecting ps3 controller and playing games at 1080p

I don't believe this one has Bluetooth so it wouldn't be too easy with a ps3 controller. They do have wireless controllers that should work with this though.

Quote from fireballs : Why get the Note 2 if price is more important than quality? There are a ton of lower level phones that could be had for less.

Because in this case, for this specific task, there is no difference in quality. Hardware accelerated 1080p video playback from a Galaxy Note 2 through an MHL cable looks identical to that from a $35 Android stick.

The Note 2 does a tremendous number of things better than this Android stick, playing 1080p video isn't one of them. That's my point, this isn't an everything device, but for playing video, the quality is identical and the price simply cannot be beat.

it is almost worth the extra $6 plus tax to get one of these in 2 days.

Quote from raheeldm : So how difficult it will be to use as game console? Like connecting ps3 controller and playing games at 1080p

Wired Xbox 360 controllers work fine, as do a number of third party controllers. Though I really don't see the point in playing high-end 3D games on these sticks. Most gamers I know have many better ways to play FPS shooters and such when they're at home, and this is definitely an "at home" device.

That and many casual Android games are designed to use multi-touch, something that is best done on a touch screen. Multi-touch isn't even possible with most remotes or game controllers. Keep in mind that it takes a very fast Android processor to make games blown up to the size of a 40 inch TV look as good as those of a run of the mill PC or console. Even then, there isn't a large library of Android games designed for the faster, gamer friendly processors.

If you're away from home, Android phones and tablets are great ways to play games of all sorts. At home, they're great for casual games. Android devices attached to a TV? Stick or not, they're probably not going to deliver a great gaming experience, casual or hardcore, at least not yet.

(Now watch, as soon as I write this Google is probably planning a "Nexus Game" with an 8 core processor and a graphics chip as powerful as any current console to sell for $49 )

These USB sticks are far better choice than PC or latops for several reasons:
1) no extra AC adapters lugging around,
2) no extra cables, can be plugged into the TV directly,
3) no extra antenas needed, can be controlled by phones directly to name a few.
4) Power savings