Pros: -attractive small form factor while still being stable enough to support cables without tipping over

-Fanless design for (pro) quiet operation but (con) quickly overheats

-Ethernet port (wired connection)

-USB ports (x2) for keyboard/mouse devices

-*i disabled the WiFi and on board Bluetooth*

Cons: -I was unable to streaming popular media from paid content providers with this device using Android KitKat OS or after installing Windows 10 Professional OS (wasn't enough CPU for smooth playback with any of the 3 main browsers for HBO Now on W10P)

-Unable to stream HBO Now out of the box with Android KitKat because the device is seen as a "rooted device" (a firmware fix is buried somewhere in the forum? requires a desktop PC and USB stick?)

-The z64 product experience feels "do-it-yourself" with the many configurations, laborious setups, and limited documentation included with the product or easily available online. IMO, the product was developed around the XBMC/Kodi experience, which I dislike for streaming paid content from providers. I don't want to host my media locally and rebroadcast to this device but this was the only way I was able to achieve some of the operation I was looking for

-the z64A start screen is a Minix launch screen similar to XBMC and is not like a standard android tablet. The Minix start screen is unattractive IMO and lacks customization (can't delete extra icons). The launch screen adds another layer of clicking with the quick launch icons being shortcuts to folders that required additional clicks to open the actual desired app

-3rd party apps are required for many functions (if working or available at all) rather than being part of the Minix product. Forum post beg for SlingTV support? The z64 is stuck at KitKat 4.4.X; Some Google Play apps require Lolipop Android 5.X

-the Intel aspect of this product is limiting the OS to KitKat 4.4.x? according to a Minix forum post. There is no further explanation or ETA that I could find for Lolipop 5.X. After this product, I would recommend staying with ARM architecture for Android OS

-Major differences between the z64A and z64W versions are the loaded BIOS. The hardware works with either BIOS but not concurrently so the loaded BIOS limits the OS to either the 64-bit Andriod OS or the 32-bit x86 OS (Windows). The z64W version includes a Windows product key that is upgradable to Windows 10 Home. The downside of Windows upgrade is Windows 10 drops Windows Media Center which I preferred for live tv playback

-Unable to dual boot x86 OS with Android OS because of limited BIOS, also limited storage space. If the device is changed to Windows 10 OS there is little space for anything else

-My z64 Windows 10 experience was limited to single operations and I wasn't able to multitask like I am with a desktop due to under performance/ limitation of hardware

-Unable to achieve fully functional 64-bit computing with Windows OS because of BIOS? according to Minix forum there are audio and driver issues. The z64W versions is a 32-bit OS

-Unable to upgrade or expand hardware, I understand the static design of hardware at this price point and form factor but the product is not fully functional and has limited performance

*cons continued into other th

Other Thoughts: -heat issues, plastic case gets hot (overheating hot in my opinion) and performance suffers. The picture quality degenerates over time; the longer I streamed exceeding 30 minutes from cold start the worse the picture quality got; this product seems to need active heat management

-product "support" relies on websites forum for fixes and updates; the forum is a separate website from main company website and difficult to quickly locate the latest relevant information

-the August update still hasn't been released (almost October, last update from April?)

I am waiting to try Apple TV 4th generation (*end of October*) for streaming content. My motivation for purchasing this device was to exceed the media streaming experience of a Nexus 7 tablet (2013) to TV through WiFi Chromecast dongle. The Chromecast setup is too slow to load for my liking, lacks responsive scene navigation, and sometimes get out of sync (affects pausing/resuming playback). I thought the Minix would outperform the Chromecast setup, the z64 failed and also lacked full app compatibility. I hoped changing the Minix to Windows 10 Professional OS would outperform the Chromecast, it didn't. I found I prefer the presentation, organization, subtitle customization, and scene navigation of web based streaming through a PC but dislike sitting in front of my desktop. I enjoy the experience of TV watching but dislike the limitation of "apps". Not only did the Minix z64 failed to merge my preferences and "bring web based streaming to the couch" but the z64 even has barriers to android apps which is unacceptable for this type of product at this price point.

Pros: Very stable machine
Fast technology
No freezing issues like MyGica boxes

Cons: NIL

Other Thoughts: I use this box mainly for KODI.

Pros: Somewhat faster than the minix neo-x8
Ram is faster.

Does what a android box should do.

Cons: wireless not as good as neo-x8 series...why?
So silly to downgrade the wireless abilities.
Only 2 usb ports

Pros: Nice and Fast
Does what and android should do.
graphics seem faster than the neo x8 + but have not objectively verified that feeling.
good for gaming as well as other stuff.

Cons: wireless is not nearly as good as the neo x8 family.

Other Thoughts: soon PCs will be much less common and these type of boxes will be the norm. I think Minix is a leader in the field