Review on 💻 AWOW Mini PC: Windows 10 Home/Pro, Intel Celeron N3350, 6GB DDR4/64GB eMMC, 4K Support, WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth by Tony Cole

I used an old laptop as a HTPC and connected my home automation server to my TV. Wanted to replace it as it runs 24/7 and gets too hot in the closet. I bought this computer to replace it. Here's my opinion. When buying a PC, the following things are important: 1) CPU. It has a quad core processor which is pretty decent. A bit outdated, but suitable for routine tasks (browsing/mailing etc.). 2) RAM - it has 4GB of RAM. This is the minimum required for a PC running any modern operating system, so it will work, but don't expect it to be able to handle heavy tasks (video editing, etc.). 3) Memory - 64GB. This means that you must use this disk as the main disk for the operating system. About half of this is occupied by Windows itself and will grow over time (with additional applications/junk/temporary files/cache, etc.). So don't expect to store multiple HD videos on board. For additional storage, use an external USB drive. One observation specific to this PC is 1) It has a wired network connection which is very useful as I need a stable connection (for a home automation server you can't have a unstable network connection). This is a big plus. 2) If you've ever had a 24/7 device like a home DVR or PC, you know how painful it is when a fan fails after a while. It always starts with high noise for several months with possible failure. And finding a replacement fan and going through the same cycle again is a big problem. One of the best features of this PC is NO FAN! There are no moving parts to fail. The outer shell has fins that look aesthetically pleasing but are actually a heatsink that dissipates heat. 3) This computer also has two full USB ports, meaning you don't need to connect a USB hub. One port is occupied by the keyboard/mouse combo and the other port is available for connecting an external USB drive. When I got it, I first booted up and tried to install Windows 10 by default. Started well with no problems. Then I tried a full screen video on You Tube at 1080p. Throughout navigation (e.g. going into full screen mode), etc., it sometimes lagged a second or more, but then caught up. Once the video played full screen, it played smoothly with no lag or video tearing. Then I installed ubutnu 20.04. Nothing special had to be done. Simply plugged in the USB with the Ubuntu image, changed the boot order in the BIOS (see image) and installed. In Ubuntu, not everything is as perfect as expected. Ubuntu comes with an Intel video driver (this PC has an Intel GPU) so there is no need to install an additional driver. However, full-screen videos are very slow when played at full resolution. I lowered the resolution to 1920x1080 (and below) and then it started playing, but with slight tears. You can watch, but it won't replace your Blu-ray player. In general, do not buy this computer if: 1) you want to be able to edit videos/photoshop in severe conditions, 2) you want to replace your laptop. Unlike a laptop, you need power, a keyboard, and a monitor to operate. You can carry around a portable keyboard and mouse combo, but I haven't seen a self-powered portable monitor. :D 3) Use it as an external hard drive. After installing the operating system, only limited storage space is available. Better invest in a portable hard drive that can hold 100 units of storage time at a cheaper price. But buy it if you: 1) Have space constraints and are looking for a compact form factor. 2) Need a small computer to access the internet, do some light word processing/spreadsheets/email 3) Want to turn your TV into a true Smart PC (not limited to a few apps powered by my TV -manufacturer) 4) Stream media content from ALL websites/services you may be aware of and not limited to apps on your Smart TV. 5) You want to run a server (media server, home automation, file server) 24/7. 6) You are energy efficient and want to save energy. (Important if point 5 applies to you) If you decide to buy: - Tip #1: If possible, leave the onboard storage for the operating system and any programs you install and use external drives (or cloud storage ) for any media (images, video, audio, working files). This will make this PC last a long time. Otherwise, you will run out of storage space in about a year. Tip #2: This computer has a MicroSD card slot, but you really don't want to use it for regular storage because MicroSD cards have a limited write capacity and wear out. and eventually fail. Use it to quickly access files on This PC. Use an external USB drive for additional storage space. TIP #3: Make sure you clean your computer regularly to keep this computer running smoothly. Also, do not place it in hard-to-reach places with poor ventilation. DO NOT place covers/insulation around this PC. Extreme heat can cause the processor to slow down, shut down completely, or worse. Tip #4: To change the boot order and enter the BIOS, press the Delete key multiple times during the boot process until the BIOS enters.