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expired Posted by ThatsNotADeal • Jun 11, 2022
expired Posted by ThatsNotADeal • Jun 11, 2022

Evolve III Maestro E-Book 11.6" Laptop Computer - Dark Grey $59.99@ Microcenter B&M Only $60

$60

Micro Center
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MicroCenter has the Evolve III Maestro E-Book 11.6" Laptop Computer - Dark Grey for $59.99. As usual with MC, this is a B&M only deal. Specs:This was $80 previously, [microcenter.com] now down to $60. At this price, it's almost throwaway, could make it a "burner" vacation laptop. Should be good for web browsing, checking e-mail, and streaming video, but anything more you'll probably be frustrated.

https://www.microcenter.com/produ...-dark-grey
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MicroCenter has the Evolve III Maestro E-Book 11.6" Laptop Computer - Dark Grey for $59.99. As usual with MC, this is a B&M only deal. Specs:This was $80 previously, [microcenter.com] now down to $60. At this price, it's almost throwaway, could make it a "burner" vacation laptop. Should be good for web browsing, checking e-mail, and streaming video, but anything more you'll probably be frustrated.

https://www.microcenter.com/produ...-dark-grey

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Jun 11, 2022
7,352 Posts
Joined Jan 2005
Jun 11, 2022
energyx
Jun 11, 2022
7,352 Posts
Might make a decent OpenWRT router with a USB NIC added.
Jun 11, 2022
22 Posts
Joined May 2014
Jun 11, 2022
heuchler
Jun 11, 2022
22 Posts
Quote from energyx :
Might make a decent OpenWRT router with a USB NIC added.
also LTE modem (GSM) build-in. Might be good for fall-over Internet Dual-WAN setup
Jun 12, 2022
266 Posts
Joined Jul 2011
Jun 12, 2022
kirbyparufo
Jun 12, 2022
266 Posts
I would not recommend this for Linux, unless you're OK with using an external USB WiFi dongle with it all the time. It looks like you need to manually install the wireless driver for the built in WiFi to work (and repeat the process every time there's a kernel update):

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxhar..._ebook_116
Last edited by kirbyparufo June 12, 2022 at 09:32 AM.
Original Poster
Jun 13, 2022
1,464 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
Jun 13, 2022
ThatsNotADeal
Original Poster
Jun 13, 2022
1,464 Posts
Weird question since I am OP, but should I get me one of these? I have one of these on reserve for pickup, but I don't have a clear use for it, I was thinking it could be my bedside laptop so I don't have to lug my living room laptop up and down from first to second floor (which I really never do anyway, I just access stuff from my phone when I'm in bed). I have a feeling that the LED screen will be such poor quality (not to mention the processor and everything else) that it will make it a slog to use.

I was also burned by the Encite Book 12 Plus 12.5" Laptop Computer that MicroCenter had several years back for $100 that lasted about 6 months before the battery crapped out and it would no longer even hold a charge, so that nice IPS screen was useless. I e-mailed Nuvision about the issues and got a response that told me I was on my own since I bought from a non-authorized dealer.

Well, I think I just answered my own question. I'm going to cancel the reservation.
Jun 14, 2022
266 Posts
Joined Jul 2011
Jun 14, 2022
kirbyparufo
Jun 14, 2022
266 Posts
Quote from ThatsNotADeal :
Weird question since I am OP, but should I get me one of these? I have one of these on reserve for pickup, but I don't have a clear use for it, I was thinking it could be my bedside laptop so I don't have to lug my living room laptop up and down from first to second floor (which I really never do anyway, I just access stuff from my phone when I'm in bed). I have a feeling that the LED screen will be such poor quality (not to mention the processor and everything else) that it will make it a slog to use.

I was also burned by the Encite Book 12 Plus 12.5" Laptop Computer that MicroCenter had several years back for $100 that lasted about 6 months before the battery crapped out and it would no longer even hold a charge, so that nice IPS screen was useless. I e-mailed Nuvision about the issues and got a response that told me I was on my own since I bought from a non-authorized dealer.

Well, I think I just answered my own question. I'm going to cancel the reservation.
I'd definitely expect a terrible cheap TN panel and bad performance watching any types of videos, doing serious web browsing, etc. I'd also expect questionable (if any) warranty service from the company that made it if it's needed. At this price, it's basically just a toy to tinker with if you want to mess around and throw Linux on it, are doing old-school emulation, etc. I have absolutely zero need for another laptop and I was still tempted to get one to play around with it. Even if it broke in 4 months I'd probably have gotten my money's worth. LMAO
Original Poster
Jun 14, 2022
1,464 Posts
Joined Nov 2009
Jun 14, 2022
ThatsNotADeal
Original Poster
Jun 14, 2022
1,464 Posts
Quote from kirbyparufo :
I'd definitely expect a terrible cheap TN panel and bad performance watching any types of videos, doing serious web browsing, etc. I'd also expect questionable (if any) warranty service from the company that made it if it's needed. At this price, it's basically just a toy to tinker with if you want to mess around and throw Linux on it, are doing old-school emulation, etc. I have absolutely zero need for another laptop and I was still tempted to get one to play around with it. Even if it broke in 4 months I'd probably have gotten my money's worth.
Yep. And I just bought a house and have a garage full of boxes, so I need to be focusing on that instead of another tech toy. And if I want to play, I have an RPi4 and components in a ziplok bag in the basement that I played with a little, but not much, about 1 1/2 years ago. All good reasons to pass on this.
Jun 14, 2022
1,162 Posts
Joined Dec 2012
Jun 14, 2022
Matthew08
Jun 14, 2022
1,162 Posts
Before anyone asks, I already combed through the FCC pictures and documents, the only thing removable on this computer is the LTE card, everything else is soldered on.

I would buy this to load linux on and give away after reviewing it but $20 shipping kills it for me.

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Jun 14, 2022
1 Posts
Joined Jun 2022
Jun 14, 2022
Fraw
Jun 14, 2022
1 Posts
Quote from ThatsNotADeal :
Weird question since I am OP, but should I get me one of these? I have one of these on reserve for pickup, but I don't have a clear use for it, I was thinking it could be my bedside laptop so I don't have to lug my living room laptop up and down from first to second floor (which I really never do anyway, I just access stuff from my phone when I'm in bed). I have a feeling that the LED screen will be such poor quality (not to mention the processor and everything else) that it will make it a slog to use.

I was also burned by the Encite Book 12 Plus 12.5" Laptop Computer that MicroCenter had several years back for $100 that lasted about 6 months before the battery crapped out and it would no longer even hold a charge, so that nice IPS screen was useless. I e-mailed Nuvision about the issues and got a response that told me I was on my own since I bought from a non-authorized dealer.

Well, I think I just answered my own question. I'm going to cancel the reservation.
I'm on mine right now. I use it as a bedside computer. The screen has the worst viewing angles on any screen that I've ever seen before but even so I still enjoyed an old movie I saw on it that was a low quality rip on a streaming site. It's slow, the keyboard is too cramped and the trackpad is sadistically designed. I've been rough with it and one of the screws popped out sometime but it's held up well considering. I still like it though as it's the smallest laptop I've ever used and it's good to use in places where something nice might get damaged but you still need a computer. I paid $80 for mine and had it for maybe over a month now.
Last edited by Fraw June 14, 2022 at 03:54 PM.
Jun 17, 2022
14 Posts
Joined May 2020
Jun 17, 2022
mardem1976
Jun 17, 2022
14 Posts
Quote from kirbyparufo :
I'd definitely expect a terrible cheap TN panel and bad performance watching any types of videos, doing serious web browsing, etc. I'd also expect questionable (if any) warranty service from the company that made it if it's needed. At this price, it's basically just a toy to tinker with if you want to mess around and throw Linux on it, are doing old-school emulation, etc. I have absolutely zero need for another laptop and I was still tempted to get one to play around with it. Even if it broke in 4 months I'd probably have gotten my money's worth.
I've been using it for a few days, and I have to say it's surprised me. Yes, it's a TN screen, but it's not as bad as others I've seen on budget chromebooks. The keybed and trackpad are nice and responsive, and I've had NO issues streaming 1080p content on Youtube, Amazon, etc.

Regular web browsing is fine, just expect an extra second or two for initial rendering of pages.

I'm even running Abelton Live on it (managing CPU load), and I've got a few classic games running and some emulators (PPSSPP runs fine at 1x, and I've even got some Wii games running at 60 with Dolphin).

That said - it's $60! By it, and then find a use for it later Wink
Jun 19, 2022
10 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Jun 19, 2022
HappyPicture903
Jun 19, 2022
10 Posts
Quote from Matthew08 :
Before anyone asks, I already combed through the FCC pictures and documents, the only thing removable on this computer is the LTE card, everything else is soldered on.

I would buy this to load linux on and give away after reviewing it but $20 shipping kills it for me.
Hi, would you share the FCC link to pictures and documents? I didn't know that this was something that we could access.
Jun 21, 2022
360 Posts
Joined Nov 2017
Jun 21, 2022
lg_20
Jun 21, 2022
360 Posts
Can this be used as mobile hotspot?
Jun 21, 2022
5 Posts
Joined Jun 2018
Jun 21, 2022
GerryC9301
Jun 21, 2022
5 Posts
MicroCenter has this thin and light Windows 10 Pro Education Edition laptop for $59.99. Same as Windows Pro, but with Cortana turned off by default. 4 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD. Available only in-store.
https://www.microcenter.com/produ...-dark-grey
Jun 21, 2022
3,020 Posts
Joined Mar 2004
Jun 21, 2022
npolite
Jun 21, 2022
3,020 Posts
I bought one of these Asus kind of cheapo $100 laptops a while back. Biggest mistake I ever made. It was absolute garbage and frustrating to do anything on it Yes it only had 2GB of ram so the 4 should help but I think for most people you are wasting your $60. I have a Chromebook which is a few years old and was sent to my by Google for review. I think it retailed for $400 at the time and struggles at times and that is running ChromeOS.
Jun 21, 2022
7,352 Posts
Joined Jan 2005
Jun 21, 2022
energyx
Jun 21, 2022
7,352 Posts
I picked one up yesterday and I must say for $60 it's hard to go wrong here. I mean Microsoft is still selling this thing for $250: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d...verviewtab

Screen is not bad at all for TN and gets brighter than expected. It took a bit of time to install all the latest Win10 updates and clean up disk space, but it's responsive and usable. Basic browsing, Youtube/Pluto TV etc are fine. The trackpad and keyboard are not top of the line, but they work fine in my limited testing. The eMMC works well enough that I will debate bothering with a $20-25 M.2 SATA drive. I have another on reserve as an open box for $48 that I will probably go pick up, as well. This one might go in the bag for an upcoming vacation instead of the 15" hoss.

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Jun 21, 2022
4 Posts
Joined Sep 2020
Jun 21, 2022
SkillfulScene716
Jun 21, 2022
4 Posts
Would this be a good buy to basically play Sims4 on ?

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