CoolShip Android computer in a keyboard is the latest Android-powered computer. But this one is unlike other Android units. It’s not in a USB stick, but in a keyboard with most of the connectivity of a standard desktop or notebook computer.
As non-standard computers come, the CoolShip is unlike others that are powered by Android. Think the Commodore 64/128, but less bulky. And aside from Android 4.0, there is a customized Android operating system appropriately named CoolShip OS that has a Windows-like UI.
This all-in-keyboard computer is powered by a Rockchip Dualcore RK3066 1.5Ghz processor, has a standard power input plus a 300mAh Li-battery that provides backup in the event of a power outage. The rest of the specs for the CoolShip are:
- Quad-core ARM Mali™-400 GPU
- 1G DDR3 RAM and 4 or 8 GB Nand flash storage
- 100Mbps Ethernet and 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity
- Input: VGA, HDMI, SD card slot, USB2.0 (x2)
The hardware that powers the CoolShip is contained in a single, palm-sized core board. As such, it is not possible to upgrade individual parts. Upgrade means swapping the whole board for a new one. And no, there is no SATA capability.
A screen shot of CoolShip OS’s graphical interface.
Here’s a video introduction of the CoolShip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VPeAyLRK5Tg#t=14s
The CoolShip is a product of FocusWill Information Technology Co., Ltd, an outfit based in Shenzhen, China. It’s currently being crowd-funded at Indiegogo. Target date of shipping is April (2013). The base package is $89.00, which gets you one CoolShip computer. More information about the funding is available here. Product details here.
I order ours in february, it was to be delivered by april, we are now at the end of August beginning of september and there is no sign of the keyboard and no responses from Steven Wang, his page in indiegogo has been deleted, his youtube also has been deleted. Who know how many people this guy stole money from.
That’s not good!
Shouldn’t be that difficult to track him down, though.
I actually received the computer however it was damaged in transit. I had numerous email exchanges with Mr. Wang and he said he would send a replacement. That was a couple of months ago and so far no replacement. I don’t really expect to ever see it as all of a sudden I get no response to my emails. Guess I bought a very expensive mouse huh? lol
I will just chalk it up to live and learn and not be suckered in again. Good luck to everyone else.
In the course of writing this article, I spoke with me by phone and I still have the number. I’ll call the number to see if he’ll answer.
I ordered my Coolship earlier today. Am so looking forward to getting it in my hands. My first computer was a C-64 and this looks way cooler. And it sounds like it will have good operating characteristics also. If it turns out to be as good or even better than advertised I will buy several more for the kids in the family.
Share your experiences when you get it.
I’m ordering mine now, I hope this takes off. I’ll be recommending it to light home users who like large screens, but wants an android feel. Oh yeah, C64, even the user manual described the underlying electronics !