ECS LIVA Q

[crazyeyesreaper]

The LIVA Q from ECS looks to impress by taking the LIVA design and further shrinking it to an absurd 0.15L volume. Compact, fully featured, and loaded with Windows 10, it offers a great deal considering its tiny size.

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[Duality92]

It says "passive" for cooling, it's not.... It has a small radial 5v fan.

 

[bug]

I don't think storage is such an issue. You can always connect a USB enclosure and even USB 2.0 has enough bandwidth to stream movies.
RAM also seems to be plenty for the intended use.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

It says "passive" for cooling, it's not.... It has a small radial 5v fan.

Thanks fixed!

I don't think storage is such an issue. You can always connect a USB enclosure and even USB 2.0 has enough bandwidth to stream movies.
RAM also seems to be plenty for the intended use.

Storage is an issue in todays world it has 2 USB ports total, with a typical more common USB wireless keyboard and mouse combo you are left with a single USB port. The only audio port is via HDMI. Meaning unless your using an HDMI monitor with speakers your likely to need a USB audio device meaning your limited to micro SD or NAS storage. Both of which are viable. However a great number of people this system are targeted at will not have NAS systems as for Micro SD the affordable higher capacity options are not a replacement for proper storage. Example the LIVA Z has the same specs as the LIVA Q but offers an M.2 slot for SSD storage with larger array of USB ports.

Also everyone forgets Windows update and system restore. 32 GB is enough for OS but once its been used awhile it will typically shrink to just 2-3 GB of usable space. Since 32GB isnt actually 32GB either means usuable HDD space is about 28 GB with OS and a few updates and programs you end up with about 1-2GB free, Most users are unaware you can make WIndows 10 Compact via a CMD command and by disabling the hybrid file you can free up a bit more space. However majority would just prefer the easy no need to lift a finger option of more space. That said with Hybrid file removed and Compact OS enabled you can get up to about 10-15 GB of storage space but it will fill up extremely quickly.

 

[bug]

You can get an USB hub, connect a keyboard and mouse and still be left with two ports for storage. And you can connect the input devices to an otherwise unused BT connection.
And audio over USB? This is supposed to be stuck in the back of a TV, I'm guessing at least 90% of installs will make use of a HDMI cable.

Now, I'm not saying this thing is bursting with connectivity. But for its price, I believe it offers enough.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

You can get an USB hub, connect a keyboard and mouse and still be left with two ports for storage. And you can connect the input devices to an otherwise unused BT connection.
And audio over USB? This is supposed to be stuck in the back of a TV, I'm guessing at least 90% of installs will make use of a HDMI cable.

Now, I'm not saying this thing is bursting with connectivity. But for its price, I believe it offers enough.

Again though LIVA Z, I reviewed uses same mounting plate for the back of a TV, all the same features all the same specs yet better connectivity. I think the LIVA Q is nifty device but its basically just a shrunk down castrated LIVA Z and is pretty much the same price. Speaking of which the LIVA Z will get a refresh soon with newer parts so the LIVA Q just feels oddly placed. Good system that if it had been released first would have been more compelling. That said the LIVA Q is being used by my grandmother right now..... so it served its purpose.

 

[Duality92]

My Liva Z sample has the i5 7300U, a CPU the Liva Q couldn't handle, the higher end configurations are worth it, but cost considerably more.

My Liva Q sample however, is exactly as yours is, but I wonder how the quad core Pentium version with more storage handles things. I feel the Liva Q a bit sloppy, it performs a bit slower than a core 2 duo after all.

Great review btw

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Yeah its a unique design and I have a feeling the Pentium version with 64GB eMMC would likely be a more worthwhile option sadly i doubt it ever gets released unless special ordered. Likely might see Pentiums from time to time but only 32GB. That said CES ECS basically said a Liva Q2 is on the way and so far LIVA Z2 units so its kinda moot I guess.