This year ECS introduces a tiny desktop computer capable of running Windows, Ubuntu, or other operating systems. The ECS Liva is small enough to hold in one hand, priced at under $200 (and currently available for just $110), and sold as a sort of DIY kit: you have to put the system board and the case together yourself.
ECS has a new model on the way, and it will have additional storage options, could have a faster processor, and has a new case design.
It’s called the LIVA X, and it will likely launch in early 2015.
Like the original, the new ECS Liva X will be available with 32GB to 64GB of eMMC flash storage. But it will also have an mSATA slot for a solid state drive.
The new system will be available with 2GB or 4GB of RAM, an Intel Bay Trail-M or Bay Trail-I processor with a clock speed up to 2.25 GHz, and there will be a model that comes with Windows 8.1 with Bing software, as well as models that ship without an operating system.
Each model should have 1 USB 3.0 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA ports, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0 as well as Gigabit Ethernet.
The ECS Liva X measures 5.3″ x 3.3″ x 1.6″.
via FanlessTech
That $110 sale for the existing Liva is *really* tempting, but I knew that it was just clearing the way for a new model.
I hope and pray that they keep the micro-usb power. I can only assume that is what they are doing, but I suppose you never know. That’s what made this device special and desirable for some unqiue use cases.
How much do you think the included Win8 will mark up the price? Also, how much cheaper can the existing Livas get? It would be insane to see $70-80 clearance sales on these existing devices.
From https://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_LIVA_X_SPEC.aspx:
> Adapter | Input: AC 100-240V,Output: DC 12V / 3A
Looks like we have no choice but to buy the existing Liva
Must be a Celeron N2840. Thats the only Baytrail chip that fits that description (up to 2.25ghz)
The only thing that held me back from buying an ECS Liva was the fact that the ram and storage were non-upgradable. An Msata slot sounds great, and being able to buy it with 4gb ram negates the need for upgradable ram.
We’ll have to wait for pricing to know if this is a good buy. $200 would be a fair price for a 4gb RAM model. I’m not so sure I would pay much more for the eMMC. i’m not likely going to use it.
still using 802.11n… why not 802.11ac? The current Liva wifi reception SUCKS
There are a surprising amount of new or newer devices with don’t support 802.11ac. Not sure the reason.
The additon of an another usb port is a welcome improvement over the existing model, as is the mSATA slot.
However, the current model uses a wifi-bluetooth card that is not supported in Ubuntu so claimed unqualified compatibility with linux is questionable. Perhaps ECS will revise that claim or change the wifi card in the new model.
Update your kernel and the WiFi should work. I think I did 3.17 64bit
And if you’re using Ubuntu, why not do an ARM from hardkernel?
Looks like a nice machine