MeeGOPad T09 4GB RAM Type-C Mini PC Box,Licensed Windows 10 Intel x5-Z8300 Dual Band WiFi 2.4g/5g 1000Mbps LAN Compute Stick(Black)

This is advertised as a Win10 device, but if you actually try to use it as such, expect disappointment. For one thing, it has a bunch of hardware that is not supported by stock Windows drivers - if you ever wipe and reinstall, you'll lose WiFi, for example. But even if you keep it as is, it's just too slow for Win10. Yes, it runs... but it'll be choppy even with the basic apps.Where this unexpectedly shines is Linux. With Debian Buster, and especially so with the 5.1 kernel from buster-backports, all hardware is supported out of the box. Running something heavy like KDE Plasma or Gnome 3 is ill-advised for the same reason as Win10, but Linux doesn't have a shortage of lightweight desktop environments - Xfce, MATE, LXQt etc are all great options.There are other Linux-based devices that can do the same, of course. But this one has the advantage that it can be powered by micro-USB. Even a 2.4 A power supply can handle a MATE desktop session under full load (e.g. Firefox with streaming video), so long as you don't have any power-hungry USB peripherals. Given that top-end Raspberry Pis require 3 A for stable operation, this is impressive.

This product starts out okay, but right away starts getting Windows updates, which you can't prevent. Very soon, one update was so big it couldn't be downloaded. But the worst thing is that it very quickly got slower and slower. I got it to use as a TV computer, which sort of works, if you don't mind the frequent Windows updates that reboot it. It boots pretty fast for Windows, however, which is a plus. The other thing is that the Wi-fi is weak, with no antennae, since I'm a ways from the router. Luckily I had a DLink USB booster that sort of improved the streaming. Finally, however, I just wanted something better, so I bought a refurbished Chromebook for $160 on Amazon, which works great so far.