Question 1

Will Linux run on this system (are drivers available for the unique hardware components)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I'm running Ubuntu 15.10 (64-bit) on mine.  All hardware was detected automatically on install and any necessary drivers were installed.  You do need to go into the BIOS and turn-off secure UEFI before attempting to install Uhuntu.

Question 2

Is there a battery pack that can run the kangaroo from the Docks power port?

Accepted Answer

You can charge the internal battery over the micro USB port on the side (next to the microSD slot), so as long as your battery pack can keep the internal charged while you’re using the Kangaroo you’ll be fine.  That will probably be easier than finding a USB adapter for the DC connector on the dock. 
The dock adapter is rated for 12V/3A, but the internal battery charges at 5V/1A.  Your external battery pack will have to provide enough current to keep up with your computer usage, so your amperage requirement will depend on what you’re doing and what devices you have plugged in to the dock.

Question 3

Why such a huge price difference over the original Kangaroo?  Definitely doesn't seem worth it to buy.

Accepted Answer

I agree.  Same processor, 2 more gb of ram, 32 more gb of flash storage, microSD slot, NO OS (this is the deal breaker).  Hardly a value over the original Kangaroo which comes with Win 10 installed.  You can buy a 32gb microSD card for $12 or 64gb for $20 almost any day of the week nowadays.  The cost of Win 10 pushes the cost well beyond $250 unless you plan to install 7 or 8.1 and go for the free 10 upgrade.

I have the $99 original with a 64gb microSD card in the expansion slot. Performs more than adequate with Chrome, Kingsoft Office Suite, wireless printer, security suite and other apps installed.    I opted for the Kangaroo to learn Win 10 before upgrading 2 desktops and a laptop running Win 7.

Question 4

will this worked with wired ethernet? will it work with a USB to ethernet adaptor?

Accepted Answer

This model doesn't have a wired ethernet port, but I've added one via USB3 and it's worked on CEntOS, Ubuntu and Windows.

Not expensive - be sure it's gigabit and USB3. I'm using one now from TeKRepublic.

Question 5

Hello,

I just received the Kangaroo Plus. Installed Ubuntu 15.10 64-Bit with no audio over HDMI. Then I installed Windows 10 64-Bit Pro and still no audio over HDMI. How to install audio drivers to the Kangaroo Plus?

Accepted Answer

For Windows 10 the drivers from Kangaroo website have to be installed.  Go to the Kangaroo support page and click on the Customer Support Portal.  Then click on Manuals and Downloads.

Specifically for HDMI audio to work the Intel Chipset Driver must be installed.

Question 6

Will this PC (with dock attached) run Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8.1 Professional 
(full retail)? I'm asking if the manufacturer provides drivers for either OS for the in built
/ on board devices (chipset,  audio & video, 802.11, Bluetooth, USB(s), etc)?

Does the BIOS / UEFI provide support for both UEFI and compatibly
modes? Can I boot from USB (either fixed disk, MicroSD or flash 
media (USB stick)?

I figure to use a USB hub to provide ports for a keyboard / mouse and 
connect a monitor to HDMI for video.

I find Windows 10's forced updates to beta to trust.

Accepted Answer

windows 7 will not boot past animation screen. you will get a red bar across the top and it will freeze.
tech support confirmed that the system is not capable of win 7 at the moment. 
win 8 and 10 do work with 10 providing the most comparability.

Question 7

If I connect a touch screen display to this unit can I use a Windows pen device to navigate rather than a mouse?

Accepted Answer

If you install the driver for the touch screen you connects to, yes you will be able to do that. Most ppl I know connects it with an iPad and use OSLinx app to turn it into a touch screen, then you have the best of both worlds.

Question 8

I read that if you install windows, somehow Kangaroo Plus has a license. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Accepted Answer

The one I bought activated. I downloaded the Windows 10 iso from microsoft and installed it onto the Kangaroo Plus just to test things out. I wasn't expecting it to activate, as I don't have a license, but it did. I'm not really sure what it is about the Kangaroo that allowed activation, but I'm not complaining. YMMV

Question 9

For anyone who used this for a while, have you run into any thermal throttling issues? Has it overheated? I want to get an idea of what the temperature is like under operation. My Asus T100 has a fanless Baytrail CPU. It usually idles around 45C and under load (movie streaming, light gaming) I have not seen it exceed 60C.

Accepted Answer

Has never overheated on us. We use it to power heavily animated html slideshows at vendor conferences. It gets plenty hot, but runs continuously at high temp for 12+ hours, never crashes. I've burned it in overnight several times, never crashed. I dont recall the exact temps but I want to say upper 50s degC.

Question 10

Can one run virtual PC like VM ware to run previous windows like windows XP? or windows XP itself ? whereto get the drivers ?

Accepted Answer

I doubt that you will be successful in trying to use a VM you might be able to since it would be running on top of Windows 10.  I purchase one of these and tried to install Windows 7 but was unable to even have the Windows 7 install program to launch.  After poking around in the UEIF bios I discovered that they installed a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chip on the mother board.  I think that this will prevent any other version of Windows from working other than Windows 10.  Since they did no come out and put any of this info in the product page, only that it was compatible with Windows 10, I am in the process of  returning the one I purchased to NewEgg for a refund.  I personally do not care for Windows 10 especially since I would have had to buy a copy to put on this mini PC so I decided to vote with my wallet.  Perhaps the company who make the Kangaroo will be more forth coming about the limitations with respect to the allowed Windows OS versions that can be installed.

Questions & Answers