One of the interesting and risky aspects of crowdfunding is that it serves as a direct line of contact between users and manufacturers in East Asia. Over the years, we have seen many projects spring up in the famous city of Shenzhen, and one of the most recent is MiQi, a compact computer based on the Rockchip RK3288 SoC that promises performance superior to that of the Raspberry Pi, in a very similar form factor.
Want to start a simple project? Improvise a case, no matter what it is. A keyboard, a retro computer that (really) stopped working, a plastic box, jars, wooden blocks... the possibilities are endless. Then, choose a compact computer and find a way to install it in that case. This is how much more complex ideas begin, such as arcade machine replicas, but the essence is the same. The most obvious benefit of compact computers is in their very description. You could install dozens in a normal ATX tower if you wanted, since they are generally about the size of a credit card. And that is exactly one of the strong points of the new MiQi mini computer.
Specifications and Performance
Yes, comparisons with the Raspberry Pi are inevitable. Many Chinese manufacturers try to jump on the SBC bandwagon, and their main strategy is to offer more powerful hardware for the same price. In the case of the MiQi, we find a Rockchip RK3288 SoC. It is definitely not the fastest that ARM architecture has in its repertoire, but with four cores and a maximum frequency of 1.8 GHz, it has even reached several Chromebook models. The RAM is 1 or 2 GB in LPDDR3, its solid-state storage ranges from 8 to 32 GB, it has four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, a microSD card slot, HDMI 2.0 output, a wide selection of pins (UART, GPIO, etc.), and something very important: a dedicated connector for cooling. The RK3288 can work with passive dissipation, but anyone who wants to get the most out of the MiQi should add an active solution.
Crowdfunding Campaign
The creator of the MiQi has turned to Indiegogo with flexible funding, aiming for a total of $50,000. The most economical entry point for the MiQi is $35, which includes the version with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. From there, rewards add a fan and case, more RAM, more space, and a USB WiFi module. First deliveries are expected in July.
