Zero Devices Z2C: Mini PC with dual core Rockchip CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage

Zero Devices sells a range of miniature PCs designed to run Google Android, including small media center devices, in-car entertainment systems, and PC-on-a-stick style devices. The company’s next mini PC could be the most powerful yet.

Zero Devices Z2C

It’s called the Zero Devices Z2C, and it features a Rockchip RK3066 ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor, 1GB of memory and 8GB of storage. There’s also a microSD card slot for extra storage.

At first glance, the device looks a lot like the UG802 mini PC, but it appears to have 1 USB port for charging and two more for connecting peripherals. It also has twice as much storage space as the UG802, and it has an HDMI port instead of an HDMI connector. In other words, you don’t plug the Z2C mini PC directly into your TV or monitor’s HDMI port. Instead you use a cable to connect the two.

Zero Devices hasn’t yet announced the price or release date for the new Z2C, but given the prices of similar devices, I’d be surprised if it sold for more than $90.

While the Z2C has a significantly more powerful processor than the popular MK802 mini PC (which has an Allwinner A10 ARM Cortex-A8 single core CPU), the MK802 excels in at least one area. It can easily run Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux-based operating systems.

Rockchip doesn’t provide support for Linux. Update: But that hasn’t stopped independent developers from working to port Ubuntu to run on RK3066 devices.

Zero Device Z2C

via cnx-software, thanks Javi!

Posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2012, 9:07 am by Brad Linder | 20 Comments

Warren

Android is not a PC operating system. Please correct your coverage of this. This computer is an embedded system designed to run an operating system that is designed to rely on networking to derive its functionality. Just because a company doesn’t know any better or deliberately lies to consumers doesn’t mean that Liliputing has to disrespect us too.
http://www.liliputing.com/ Brad Linder

It depends on your definition of a PC. Rockchip devices have poor support for Linux. But you can use an Android device to connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and run a web browser, office suite, audio and video editing software, and so on…

Android may have been developed for smartphones initially — but those are arguably personal computers that fit in your pocket. In fact, they’re probably more “personal” than the so-called desktop and laptop PCs we’ve been using for decades, since people tend to keep their phones with them all the time.

And as devices like the MK802 and Z2C show, you can use Android on non-smartphone form factor.

In fact, if you want, you can also run android86 on a standard laptop or desktop computer with an Intel or AMD chip.

But I probably should have mentioned the lack of Linux support in the article, so while I don’t see any reason to change the headline, I wll add a line about Linux to the article.
http://www.facebook.com/lorne.hammond Lorne Hammond

Brad is correct Warren. These devices fall into the PC or personal computer area as you can’t get much more personal than this. PC does not mean “runs windows”.

Thanks for reporting on these small devices here on liliputing Brad. I’ll keep coming back as long as you are doing that.
http://twitter.com/EricSeale Eric in Milpitas

RockChip are not releasing kernel source for this generation?
rkaede

PC is personal computer. not necesarily runs windows. nice to see all the RK3066 device in the market.
floiorano

these are the “next pc”

i’d like to see linux on this hardware (most for libreoffice, calligra…)
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/ sola

Rockchip should announce Linux support for their RK3066 SOCs to make them more hacker-friendly.

If they do, they kill the Allwinner A10 competitors completely.
Spbond

No Linux support
No Mali Gpu
No Psu Included (0.5 amp is not enough for thiw device!!)
82 USD is toooo much when you can buy ug802 for 68
PePa

On most tech sites a PC refers to a x86 architecture device. Of course it meant “personal computer” originally, but that doesn’t mean much. Before PC’s you had Home computers. ARM-devices are usually not referred to as PCs.
http://twitter.com/JouleJaeger JouleJaeger

Fine and dandy, but where is the Z902 I ordered?? Are they shipping or not?? Anyone had a delivery??
Josephenry

I was notified yesterday it was being shipped.
Ibrahim Ng’eno

Doesn’t mean that they aren’t, “tech sites” are free to mostly refer to x86 based devices as PCs but that does not mean ARM or other architecture devices are NOT PCs, I mean, what’s more personal than a computer you can carry in you pocket? connect to an available display?
Ibrahim Ng’eno

The Rockchip 3066 has a MALI MP4 GPU
Spbond

I know but on the site you can see that its a Vivante GC2000 and not a Mali 400 quad core.Also it says it only supports 16Gb cards.And they ask 82 usd for this……..
http://www.facebook.com/javi.rodicio Javi Rodicio

I don’t think 82 is too much. Z2C is better than UG802. You also can buy a Flying Touch and think it’s better than iPad2 just because price…
JL

Same thing? http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-New-MK808-Dual-core-Android-4-1TV-Box-Cortex-A9-RK3066-1GB-DRR3-8GB/638637440.html
Voltup Media

Very interesting. I’ve been looking at embedded computers. Maybe I’ll look more into getting one of these. Android supported seems interesting.
Raymond Day

“Rockchip doesn’t provide support for Linux” But Android is based on Linux Kernal 3.x?
Hunor Andras

It does in fact have a Mali GPU, and with the one I’ve ordered I did receive a PSU. Linux support…don’t know about it, the Z902 did support it. Mine was shipped faulty, and so far they did not respond to any of my mails.
vabs

i have a Z2C that freezes at startup, it goes to the “android” logo and freezes completely. You have any idea about how to deal with it? Tks in advance

Zero Devices Z2C: Mini PC with dual core Rockchip CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage

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