If I say the words mobile computing, what comes to mind? Probably your smartphone or tablet device. Of course, that is the correct answer.
Both smartphones, tablets, and their additional battery powered companions are essentially mobile computers that can be taken anywhere to do anything that they can. But what about a computer that is similar to a desktop, but can be easily moved about? What category does that fall into?
As technology advances, we see incredible things. Folding smartphones are right around the corner, more and more cars are beginning to drive and stop themselves, and we get better at fitting the same performance of something that was big into something smaller.
If we want to run Microsoft Office on Windows 10 productively, we’ll need a desktop or laptop. Both of them do an excellent job at running the Office suite but one of them is mobile, and the other is not. The biggest problem with both of them is that sometimes they can be a hassle to move about.
Desktops are self-explanatory as to why they are a hassle to move, but even laptops have their disadvantages: they often weigh over five pounds, larger-screened units are tough to pack into a backpack, and they require space to be sat down.
In the case of digital signage or traveling for work, laptops aren’t always the easiest way to get Windows. Instead, what if it came on a device like your Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku Stick?
Azulle is a unique computer company in that they specialize in tiny computers. I recently reviewed their Inspire and Byte3 that give you Windows 10 on a computer that fits in the palm of your hand. This time, I’m reviewing a computer that can fit in your shirt pocket.
With endless possibilities, imagine running a full digital signage board at a trade show or having full Windows 10 in your hotel room on the big screen TV all from a device that is only 5.5 inches in length.
Known as the Access3, the new mobile computer is an HDMI-media stick sized computer that has the full desktop experience we’ve always wanted while on the go.
Welcome to my review of the Azulle Access3 Mini PC.
Design
It was three years ago when I first reviewed the now-popular Amazon Fire TV Stick, a multimedia device that connected directly to an HDMI port on a TV to provide media content. This concept by Amazon was a massive success with both Google and Roku following suit.
As we’ve become familiar with HDMI-stick media devices, Azulle is entering the now well-known form factor and building a full-featured Windows computer in the same manner.
Small enough to be concealed in a shirt pocket, the Access3 is a device so small that many people may question the fact that it’s running a 64bit version of Windows 10.
The 5.5-inch HDMI-stick computer plugs directly into an HDMI port of a monitor or TV with the only required cable being for power.
On the front end of the Access3, we find the gold-plated HDMI plug. Optionally, for monitors and TVs that have closely placed or hard to access HDMI ports, the Access3 comes with an HDMI extension cable.
A physical tour around the rest of the Access3 reveals a fair amount of I/O for a device so small. There are two full-sized USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card reader, and a wireless antenna. There’s also a Kensington lock jack to prevent someone from unplugging the Access3 and walking off with it.
For power, the Access3 uses a micro USB input that takes in 5V from the included DC power supply. Seeing that this device is new, I would have preferred Azulle use the USB-C standard for power. This would have allowed users to connect a dock to the Access3 if they chose to enable Thunderbolt as well.
The HDMI-stick computer is sealed all around to not only keep the sizing of the Access3 to a minimum but also to prevent little fingers from getting inside to the hardware components. As a result, all of the hardware components are passively cooled.
On both the top and bottom faces of the Access3, there is a ribbed pattern that assists with dissipating heat from the Intel CPU. While in use, the Access3 does get hot to the touch, but with this clever design trick, it does help limit thermals.
The exterior of the Access3 is made of a mixture of plastic and rubber and is matte black all around. Under pressure from my thumbs, the Access3 does not budge or flex as if it will break. Despite being small and rectangular in shape, it has impressive strength in build quality.
Unfortunately, there are two bits of the Access3 that may suffer from damage. There is no travel case included with the Access3 which means many will pack it into a bag unprotected. Both the HDMI plug and wireless antenna are prone to break from accidents or misuse of the device. I would have preferred Azulle provide a travel case or an HDMI plug cover.
With the limitations and design struggles the Azulle engineers must have gone through to get the Access3 so small, they certainly did an excellent job at designing the product. Its form factor is a fan favorite and makes the device an excellent traveling buddy.
Functionality
As I’ve mentioned a few times, the Access3 runs Windows 10 64bit Professional. To get started with Windows, you simply plug in the Access3 to a TV or monitor, power it on, and configure Windows just as you would with any other computer.
Now, one generous inclusion by Azulle was the Professional edition of Windows 10. Seeing that most users will be happy with Windows 10 Home, including Professional on a device such as this one made great sense and I’m glad they did because Professional includes Windows Remote Desktop Connection.
Setup takes mere minutes to do followed by a few Windows Updates that will be needed to get it all configured properly. The Access3 does have built-in Bluetooth, but to first get started you’ll need a wired or wireless keyboard and mouse.
Uneventfully, after setup, you have standard Windows. No gimmicks here, it’s Windows just like your desktop and laptop.
The difference between this and your other devices is the hardware. My unit is the base model with the Intel Quad-Core Celeron Apollo Lake N3450 CPU with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. Do note that the limited storage is also where Windows is installed, leaving you with little for yourself.
Other models include lesser processors (not recommended) or use the N3450 CPU followed by 4GB/64GB or 6GB/32GB/64GB. As I find 4GB is the minimal amount needed to run Windows 10, I would highly recommend the 6GB variant.
Inside Windows, the usability of the Access3 is as expected for a mini-PC. You can browse the web, have multiple tabs open, watch 4K video, and run Office productivity files from it, but you do have to watch your usage.
When Windows Updates was running in the background, it used all of the CPU available, and the web browser can begin to eat into the limited RAM. Nevertheless, the Access3 handles itself well under a normal load.
I could watch full 4K videos on YouTube without a single hiccup, browse the news websites with ease, and even open up a few PowerPoint and Excel files.
This isn’t a device where you’ll be running a bunch of VLOOKUPs from or gaming on, but rather a device that gives you Windows-to-go. Usability is great for everyday applications as well.
If you plan on using this as a slideshow at a business trade show, it would make an excellent demonstration display or to show off a light-weight software to clients. Additionally, it could allow you to have viewers enter information into a form. The possibilities are endless as it’s full Windows 10. Even more so due to the Windows 10 1809 kiosk mode.
My Final Thoughts
Azulle has always blown me away with their mini-PCs and their ability to fit some impressive hardware into weird, but useable form factors and there is no exception here with their new Access3.
I love the design of the Access3 in how it’s so similar to the Amazon Fire TV Stick and how it plugs directly into an HDMI port. I can sit down at any computer with a monitor, plug in the Access3 and instantly have all of my files ready to go just as if I had my desktop.
Furthermore, the functionality and usability of the Access3 is par for what I expected with its internal hardware. It’s not stunning, and it’s not quick, but it gets the job done, and when paired with a wireless keyboard/mouse combo, it’s incredibly easy to use from a distance.
Starting at $209.99, Azulle’s Access3 is a great computer for those who can see a use case for it. This is not a computer for everyone or a replacement for your laptop or desktop, but rather a great piece for those who can use it with a display monitor or who are always on the go.
All in all, I’m happy with my Access3, and I enjoy how it gives me Windows wherever there’s a monitor insight.
Buy it now:
© 2018 Justin Vendette