PCG02 Plus from Star Cloud (formerly MeLe) is another mini PC based on Windows 10. It is a small, portable, efficient computer.
Wintel Pro CX- W8 mini PC also has similar features, but importantly, it does not have a Windows license, so you need to add a Windows license to the price of the purchased product.
The manufacturer of PCG02 Plus Star Cloud assured us that their device has the appropriate license, and the price given is the only one, which the buyer will have to pay. The company notes on its website that the available devices are Microsoft OEM certified.
We'll check if this is a good product in a market that is slowly starting to fill up with this type of devices.
Inside the device, there aren't many differences between the Star Cloud PCG02 and other mini computers, such as the Wintel Pro or X5 Tronsmart Ara. These mini computers are based on the standard Intel reference design, popularized by the Intel Compute Stick. In fact, the PCG02 also comes with a similar casing as the Compute Memory Stick, but it is not exactly the same design.
The PCG02 Plus Star Cloud came in the same packaging as the retail version. Inside the box, there's a mini PC, an HDMI-HDMI adapter, a micro USB power supply, and leaflets with warranty information and a user manual. The device itself can be connected to an HDMI port, so the manufacturer omitted the HDMI cable. However, if your TV doesn't have an HDMI port and you don't have a spare cable, your first experience with this device may be difficult.
The top and bottom of the PCG02 Plus Star Cloud are covered with a unique housing that effectively dissipates heat. Since it is a fanless product, other solutions were needed. On the bottom of the device is an Ethernet port, while on the side of the device are two USB ports, a micro USB port, a micro SD card slot, and a Wi-Fi receiver. The LED is hidden under the top layer and becomes visible when the power is turned on.
At just 54 mm, the PC Stick fits perfectly in your pocket and it's easy to imagine how convenient it is for business trips or presentations.
PCG02 Plus Star Cloud It's based on Windows 10 Home with built-in support for eight languages. Because the device is running version 1511 (also known as the November Update) of Windows 10, many updates installed shortly after the device was first turned on. Interestingly, the automatic update service was disabled on the device, which caused some difficulties with the Windows Store. But once all the updates were installed, the experience was more or less the same as with a regular Windows PC.
As with other mini PCs I've tested, I felt that the dedicated large screen mode in Windows 10 would be the most suitable for a TV screen. Of course, there's also a tablet mode, but the traditional desktop view from a distance seems smaller.
Users can change the text size and scaling to suit their needs, but an interface like the one seen on various smart TVs or Windows Media Center can really prove to be the most beneficial. For those who want to use the device with a monitor, these issues obviously don't exist and they can continue to use it as a normal computer, thanks to which you can surf the Internet freely.
Due to updates in Windows 10, I am not sure if the integrated 32GB eMMC will be sufficient after each major update like the Anniversary Update. Since there is no 64GB option, the memory should be used wisely. The device supports memory expansion via Micro SD card up to 128GB, which should alleviate some of these potential issues.
The user can change the default storage to extended storage and save new documents, music, and other files there. This should alleviate the issue somewhat.
The Intel Atom x5 - Z8300 chip is capable of delivering decent performance for tasks like surfing the web or editing documents. It's sufficient for browsing, playing media, and gaming. However, 2GB of RAM is insufficient for multitasking scenarios, such as opening multiple tabs in Chrome while running another app or two. Using four different apps often caused the system to slow down.
The chipset is comparable to most smartphone SoCs. However, getting the right version of Windows can raise buyers' expectations and they may be disappointed in that case. While Cherry Trail is reasonably powerful as a phone SoC, it is no match for even the most basic computer processors, and users should be aware of these limitations.
One of the biggest complaints I had about a similar PC was its weak Wi-Fi, but the external antenna on the PCG02 Plus Star Cloud assured me that I would have access to my network without making any changes. It receives a full signal from both of my routers, and it also has an Ethernet port for good measure.
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