For Less than a $100, You Can Now Purchase a Desktop PC That Fits in Your Pocket


InfocusKangarooMiniPcIt’s $99, is roughly the size of a thick business card and can (potentially) replace your desktop PC. Meet the newest pocket PC on the block, the Kangaroo - a Windows 10-equipped micro PC from Infocus that is smaller than your average smartphone. It’s not the smallest PC made by any means; Intel’s Compute Stick and the Pen Stick by ASUS are both roughly the size of a thumb drive. Nor is it the first to be dubbed a “Pocket PC”; in the past year alone, several companies including Lenovo and Apple have released similar products, with several others reportedly in the works as we speak. While the computer-on-a-stick is a novel idea, it leaves me a little wanting - they have to be plugged in at all times to work, and offer zero port options. Products like Lenovo’s ThinkCentre Tiny Desktop or the Apple Mac Mini, while offering built-in batteries and more connectivity, will both set you back to the tune of around $500. Where the Kangaroo stands out from the crowd is in its price and available ports.

InfocusKangarooMiniPc1The Kangaroo uses an Intel Cherry Trail Atom X5-Z8500 processor and comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Spec-wise, it’s essentially an Atom-based tablet sans the touchscreen. Where this pocket product really shines, though, is in its versatility. It comes with a fairly unique docking connector for its size, offering USB 2.0, USB 3.0, an HDMI output and a charging port. And thanks to built-in Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac WiFi, there is no need to waste any of those precious ports on peripherals like a keyboard or mouse. In addition to the port assortment, it supports microSDXC cards so that you can expand storage up to 128GB. Connect it to your TV using the HDMI port and it becomes a mobile entertainment station. And Infocus, a company best known for their projectors, claims that the Kangaroo will work with any screen you pair it with. Oh, and did I mention it even comes with a fingerprint sensor?

InfocusKangarooMiniPc-2“Consumers own many different devices including tablets, laptops and desktop PCs. Each device is used in different locations for different purposes” said Kangaroo’s director for product marketing, Lawrence Yen. “Kangaroo is the first product to allow you to use the same PC for all applications, in any environment.” Obviously Infocus is not trying to reinvent the wheel here or anything, but what they have done is create a device that does more with (and for) less than its competitors. The integrated lithium battery provides roughly 4 hours of untethered “casual use”, while a multitude of included ports (which can also be expanded via a docking station) offer perhaps the closest option currently on the market to a truly portable, near fully-functioning PC that can fit into your pocket. Throw in Windows 10 Home edition and the security of Windows Hello for secure, easy logins and for less than a hundred dollars, Infocus’s Kangaroo is a steal of a deal.

Topics: Technology News Mini / Nano PCs Tech Reviews

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