After launching the Vorke V1 small form-factor desktop computer with a Celeron Braswell processor earlier this year, Vorke is back… and this time they’re offering models with Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Skylake processor options.

The Vorke V2 is basically a tiny desktop that looks like an Intel NUC.

But the a Vorke V2 with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and Ubuntu Linux software sells for about the price of a barebones NUC (with no memory, storage, or OS).

Geekbuying is taking pre-orders for the Vorke V2 for $350 and up (after you apply coupons for $20 – $30 off).

vorke-v2_01

There are four configurations available so far:

Each model has 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and ports including a USB 3.1 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and HDMI and headset jacks.

Under the hood, there’s an M.2 SSD 2280 slot and a 2.5 inch drive bay, and the computer measures about 5″ x 4.8″ x 1.5.”

While the computes ship with Ubuntu 16.04, they can also supports Windows or other operating systems. I suspect Vorke went with Ubuntu not so much because the company figures there’s strong demand for the Linux-based operating system, but because it allows the company to avoid paying a Windows license fee, while still shipping a computer that’s fully usable out of the box.

 

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21 replies on “Vorke V2: Skylake Ubuntu mini PC for the price of a barebones Intel NUC ($350 and up)”

  1. Has anyone tested first generation unit ? Is it made out of metal/aluminum ? How is the quality ?

  2. With computers this small, I think we should return to the c64 form factor. Computer built into the keyboard.

        1. You are welcome, Thomas. I hope they have something you can use if you like the keyboard in a computer option. I prefer a separate keyboard but my first home computer was a TRS-80 CoCo which had the keyboard integrated within the computer so I have some experience with that form factor — no matter how far in the past.

    1. lol that way if you spill some coke on your keyboard, you have to buy a whole new computer,

    2. I had a TI-99/4A that was a computer and keyboard together. I believe the Timex-Sinclair computer was like that.

  3. Finally they updated the soc on their mini PCs! Could get one from Geekbuyng actually.

  4. “vorke v2 even supports Mac OS”

    Hey China, you’re not supposed to say this out loud 🙂

    1. I don’t think they have to worry about it in China. The court system there is extremely receptive to bribery and favors the local company over a US corporation anyway. If Apple does try to sue they will get laughed out of court and their company representative for the lawsuit will be sent to a “reeducation camp” as punishment for even thinking about suing a local Chinese company probably owned by someone on the Chinese Politburo (their version of the US Congress).

  5. All of these just seem overpriced. Where are the sub 80-200usd arm equivalents?

    1. Chromeboxes went out of style. I got mine for $150 and put Ubuntu on it. If it had native HDMI 2.0 and CEC I would use it as a file server and media player… instead I use an Odroid C2 ($50). The chromebox has USB 3.0, but the C2 has everything else (gigabit ethernet, HDMI 2.0 & CEC, 4k h265). Great little server, big improvement over Rpi3.

      1. A dell chrombox with i3-4030u is 150usd off ebay. But yeah, this is 4th gen haswell from early 2014 and now we’re on 7th gen stuff…not chromeboxes though 🙁

      2. ive never had one but id like a chromebox, with chrome os not linux. they just stopped making them

      3. HP still sells a few Chrome-based NUC-size computers for the business market (I actually looked at that page this morning). They ranged from $150 for a Celeron CPU to $650 for one with an i7 (what you would need an i7 in a Chrome-based computer for is beyond me but it is available). As for installing Linux on them I don’t have any clue as to how easy it is or if it is even possible.

    2. You get an i7 processor, 8gb of ram and 256gb ssd for 450. That’s a fully loaded mini pc but $100 cheaper than the equivalent Brix barebone. I consider this a very good value considering you only need a Windows license, if you like to run Windows on the machine.

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