Open Boot Lab

Author: Open Boot Lab

  • REDMI Headphones Neo Review: Are They Worth It?

    REDMI Headphones Neo Review: Are They Worth It?

    REVIEW 007 // REDMI Headphones Neo // Wireless headphones

    November 2026

    After spending approximately three weeks using the REDMI Headphones Neo almost every day, I wanted to share my experience with Xiaomi’s affordable over-ear wireless headphones.

    I purchased these headphones for around €65, primarily to use at work for listening to music, attending Microsoft Teams meetings, and switching between my work computer and smartphone.

    Having previously used the REDMI Buds 8 Pro, I was particularly interested in seeing how Xiaomi’s over-ear headphones would compare, especially regarding comfort, sound quality, and active noise cancellation.

    So, after three weeks of daily use, are they worth the money?

    01 // FIRST IMPRESSIONS

    The REDMI Headphones Neo offer a relatively straightforward approach to wireless audio: an over-ear design, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, and several features that make them practical for everyday use.

    My first impression was positive. Pairing them with my Xiaomi 15T Pro was extremely straightforward, and getting them connected to my work computer was just as easy.

    What interested me most, however, wasn’t necessarily the sound quality or the noise cancellation. It was the ability to have two devices connected simultaneously.

    That feature has turned out to be one of my favourite things about these headphones.

    02 // UNBOXING

    Before getting into the review, I also recorded an unboxing video showing the headphones and their design.

    The unboxing provides a closer look at the headphones themselves, while the rest of this article focuses on how they perform during actual daily use.

    03 // TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

    Before discussing my experience, let’s take a quick look at the hardware.

    SpecificationREDMI Headphones Neo
    DesignWireless over-ear headphones
    Drivers40 mm dynamic drivers
    ConnectivityBluetooth 5.4
    Active Noise CancellationUp to 42 dB adaptive ANC
    MicrophonesTriple-microphone AI noise reduction
    Battery lifeUp to 72 hours (ANC off)
    Battery capacity600 mAh
    ChargingUSB-C
    WeightApproximately 263 g
    Multipoint connectivityTwo devices simultaneously
    Companion applicationXiaomi Earbuds

    The battery life and ANC figures above are manufacturer specifications rather than measurements from my own testing. On paper, the specifications are promising for headphones in this price range. But specifications only tell part of the story.

    04 // COMFORT AND DAILY USE

    Comfort is one of the most important factors for me when choosing headphones.

    I primarily use the REDMI Headphones Neo at work, where I spend a considerable amount of time at my computer. That means the headphones need to remain comfortable throughout regular listening sessions and meetings.

    Fortunately, comfort has been one of their stronger points.

    After three weeks of frequent use, I find them comfortable to wear, and I haven’t had any significant complaints about the fit.

    The over-ear design is also a nice alternative to earbuds, particularly when spending longer periods listening to music or attending online meetings.

    For my everyday office use, they’ve proven to be a comfortable option.

    05 // SOUND QUALITY

    Sound quality is one of the most important aspects of any pair of headphones, and after three weeks of daily use, I would describe the REDMI Headphones Neo as decent, especially considering their price.

    My music taste is extremely varied. I listen to pretty much everything, from rap, Japanese city pop to drum and bass, techno, video game soundtracks, heavy metal, death metal, and atmospheric black metal such as Burzum. This means I’ve been listening to a wide range of musical styles, including vocal-focused tracks, electronic music, atmospheric compositions, and heavier guitar-driven genres.

    One thing I particularly appreciate is the bass response. The bass is definitely present, but it isn’t overpowering. There’s enough of it to make bass-heavy genres like drum and bass, techno, and rap enjoyable without dominating the overall listening experience. For my personal preferences, this is a pleasant balance. I don’t particularly enjoy headphones where excessive bass overwhelms everything else, and fortunately, that hasn’t been my experience with the Headphones Neo.

    Across the different genres I’ve been listening to, the headphones have provided an enjoyable everyday experience. However, I wouldn’t describe their sound quality as exceptional or audiophile-grade. These are affordable wireless headphones, and their performance should be considered in that context.

    For my primary use case — listening to music throughout the working day, they’ve been more than adequate.

    My verdict on sound quality: A pleasant listening experience with noticeable but controlled bass. The sound quality is decent for the price, and the headphones have handled my varied music preferences well without any major complaints.

    06 // ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION

    Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC, was one of the features I was most interested in testing. Xiaomi advertises up to 42 dB of adaptive noise cancellation, which sounds impressive for a relatively inexpensive pair of headphones. In practice, my experience has been more mixed.

    For regular office use, the noise cancellation is acceptable. It can help reduce background noise and make listening more comfortable. However, when I tried the headphones in noisier environments, their limitations became much more noticeable. Sudden noises, such as banging sounds and other sharp background noises, were not particularly well suppressed.

    The headphones simply struggled to reduce these types of sounds effectively. This doesn’t necessarily make the ANC bad, but it is important to understand what to expect.

    COMPARISON WITH REDMI BUDS 8 PRO

    I also own the REDMI Buds 8 Pro, which offer noticeably better active noise cancellation in my experience. The difference is significant enough that I would choose the Buds 8 Pro when noise cancellation is my main priority. Of course, these are two different types of products. The Buds 8 Pro are in-ear earbuds, while the Headphones Neo use an over-ear design.

    Nevertheless, the comparison is useful because both products come from Xiaomi’s REDMI audio lineup.

    My verdict on ANC: Good enough for everyday office use, but not particularly effective against sudden or sharp noises. If strong noise cancellation is your main priority, there are better options.

    07 // MICROPHONE QUALITY AND MICROSOFT TEAMS

    One of the main reasons I purchased these headphones was for work. I regularly attend Microsoft Teams calls and meetings, so microphone performance is important. Fortunately, the REDMI Headphones Neo have performed well in this area.

    Based on my experience during meetings and calls, the microphone quality is good and perfectly suitable for regular office communication. I haven’t encountered any significant problems that would prevent me from using them as my primary work headphones.

    For people who regularly attend online meetings, this is definitely one of the more useful aspects of the product.

    08 // DUAL-DEVICE CONNECTIVITY

    This is probably my favourite feature of the REDMI Headphones Neo. The headphones support simultaneous connections to two devices, which means I can keep them connected to both my Xiaomi 15T Pro and my work computer.

    For my daily workflow, this is extremely convenient. I can listen to something on my smartphone and then switch to using my computer without manually disconnecting and pairing the headphones every time.

    Switching between the two devices has been fast and convenient in my experience. This might sound like a small feature, but once you start using it regularly, it’s difficult to imagine going back to headphones that require constant manual switching. For anyone using headphones across both a personal smartphone and a work laptop, this is a genuinely useful addition.

    09 // XIAOMI EARBUDS APPLICATION

    Another positive part of the experience has been Xiaomi’s companion application. Despite its name, the Xiaomi Earbuds app also supports the REDMI Headphones Neo.

    The application is straightforward to navigate and makes managing the headphones simple. It provides access to additional settings, including noise cancellation controls, audio adjustments, and connection-related options. I particularly appreciate how easy it is to use. There is no complicated setup process, and the interface makes it easy to find the settings you need.

    Combined with the easy pairing process and dual-device connectivity, the software experience has been one of the stronger aspects of these headphones.

    10 // BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING

    Xiaomi advertises up to 72 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation disabled. The headphones also support fast charging, with Xiaomi claiming that a 10-minute charge can provide up to five hours of playback under its specified test conditions.

    These are promising figures for headphones intended for daily use. However, I haven’t carried out a controlled battery rundown test, so I can’t independently confirm Xiaomi’s advertised endurance. Battery life will also depend on factors such as volume, active noise cancellation, connectivity, and usage patterns.

    For now, I would treat the manufacturer’s figures as a reference rather than a guaranteed result.

    11 // WHAT I LIKED AND WHAT COULD BE BETTER

    After three weeks of using the REDMI Headphones Neo, several things stand out.

    WHAT I LIKED

    • Comfortable for regular office use
    • Decent sound quality for the price
    • Good microphone performance during Microsoft Teams calls
    • Extremely easy pairing process
    • Fast and convenient switching between two connected devices
    • Straightforward Xiaomi Earbuds application
    • Useful feature set for approximately €65

    WHAT COULD BE BETTER

    • Active noise cancellation could be stronger
    • Sudden noises and sharp background sounds are not suppressed particularly well
    • Sound quality is decent rather than exceptional
    • The REDMI Buds 8 Pro provide noticeably better ANC in my experience

    None of these drawbacks has made me regret purchasing the headphones, but they are worth considering before buying.

    12 // ARE THEY WORTH €65?

    After approximately three weeks of daily use, I think the REDMI Headphones Neo offer good value for someone looking for affordable wireless headphones, particularly for office work. They aren’t perfect.

    The sound quality is decent rather than outstanding, and the ANC isn’t nearly as effective as I would have liked in louder environments.

    However, the headphones make up for some of these weaknesses with comfort, useful software features, reliable everyday usability in my experience, and excellent dual-device convenience. If I were buying headphones primarily for strong active noise cancellation, I would probably look elsewhere.

    But for listening to music at work, participating in Teams meetings, and switching between my computer and smartphone, they’ve been a good purchase.

    13 // FINAL THOUGHTS

    The REDMI Headphones Neo aren’t trying to compete with expensive, premium wireless headphones, and I don’t think they need to. For around €65, they provide a comfortable over-ear design, decent sound quality, good microphone performance, and a particularly useful dual-device connection feature.

    After wearing them almost every day for three weeks, I’m happy with the purchase. The ANC could definitely be better, particularly when dealing with sudden background noises, but for my intended use at work, the headphones have performed well.

    Would I recommend them? Yes, particularly for someone looking for affordable headphones for office work, online meetings, and casual music listening.

    Just don’t expect premium-level noise cancellation.

    // A NOTE ON PERSONAL PREFERENCES

    It’s also important to remember that sound quality is subjective. Everyone hears things differently, and our preferences vary depending on the type of music we enjoy and the sound signature we prefer.

    Some people enjoy powerful, bass-heavy headphones, while others prefer a more neutral and balanced sound. The shape of our ears, how the headphones fit, and even the seal around the ear cushions can influence our listening experience.

    My impressions are based on my personal preferences and three weeks of everyday use rather than professional audio measurements.

    What sounds good to me might not necessarily sound the same to you, so I always recommend trying headphones yourself whenever possible.


    // END OF REVIEW 007

  • How to Install Linux on a 32-Bit Atom Netbook in 2026

    How to Install Linux on a 32-Bit Atom Netbook in 2026

    GUIDE 002 // HP Mini 110 // 32 Bit // Atom // Antix Linux

    OCTOBER 2026

    The HP Mini 110 is exactly the kind of machine that OpenBootLab exists for. It is small, inexpensive, easy to dismiss and far too interesting to throw away.

    My example uses an Intel Atom N270, a processor from an era when 32-bit netbooks were everywhere. That architecture is now the biggest obstacle: most mainstream Linux distributions have stopped producing 32-bit installation images, while modern websites and applications expect much faster hardware.

    That does not make the HP Mini useless. With a realistic goal and a lightweight operating system, it can still be a compact writing machine, terminal, retro gaming system or Linux experiment.

    For this project, I installed antiX Linux, a lightweight Debian based distribution that still offers a 32-bit edition.

    01 // THE HARDWARE

    My machine is an HP Mini 110 special edition, model VT867EA#BED. Its Intel Atom N270 is a single-core processor with Hyper-Threading and, most importantly for this guide, a 32-bit instruction set.

    The original machine came with Windows 7 Starter and a generous collection of preinstalled HP software and casual games. It is an interesting time capsule, but Windows 7 is no longer a sensible everyday online operating system.

    The goal was not to turn this netbook into a modern powerhouse. I wanted a currently maintained Linux system that could make the hardware useful again.

    02 // CHECK WHETHER YOUR NETBOOK IS 32-BIT

    Do not assume that every Atom netbook is 32-bit. Some later Atom processors support 64-bit operating systems.

    If Linux is already running, check the architecture with:

    lscpu

    Look for the Architecture and CPU op-mode(s) lines.

    You can also run:

    uname -m

    Common results include:

    • i686 or i386 – a 32-bit Linux system
    • x86_64 – a 64-bit Linux system

    If no operating system is installed, search the exact processor model before downloading an ISO. The Atom N270 used in my HP Mini requires a 32-bit operating system.

    If your computer is running Windows, you can find detailed information about its hardware and system specifications by opening System Information or running the dxdiag command to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

    03 // WHY I CHOSE ANTIX

    Finding a Linux distribution that still supports 32-bit hardware is becoming increasingly difficult. Most mainstream distributions have moved exclusively to 64-bit systems, leaving older computers like the HP Mini 110 with fewer options.

    Fortunately, antiX Linux continues to support 32-bit x86 processors. Based on Debian Stable, antiX is designed to run efficiently on older and less powerful computers without requiring systemd.

    That makes it a particularly good match for hardware with:

    • A 32-bit processor
    • Limited RAM
    • A slow mechanical hard drive
    • Older integrated graphics
    • A low-power Intel Atom CPU

    At the time of writing, the latest release is antiX 26.1, released on 29 September 2026.

    antiX 26.1 is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit editions, with two installation options:

    • Full Edition: Includes several lightweight window managers, preinstalled applications, and broader hardware support. This is the recommended option for most users.
    • Core Edition: A smaller installation without a graphical desktop, intended for experienced users who prefer to build their system from a minimal foundation.

    For this project, I chose the 32-bit Full Edition. It provides a usable desktop environment out of the box while keeping system requirements low enough for the HP Mini 110’s aging hardware.

    DOWNLOADING ANTIX

    The latest installation images are available from the official antiX website:

    Download

    For the HP Mini 110 equipped with an Intel Atom N270, select the following ISO:

    antiX-26.1_386-full.iso

    Important: The Intel Atom N270 only supports 32-bit operating systems. A 64-bit installation image will not boot on this processor.

    If a newer version of antiX becomes available after this article is published, check the official download page for the corresponding 32-bit Full Edition.

    Note: My original installation used antiX 26. The newer antiX 26.1 release includes bug fixes, so I recommend downloading the updated version when performing a fresh installation.

    04 // WHAT YOU NEED

    • The HP Mini or another 32-bit x86 netbook
    • A USB flash drive of at least 4 GB
    • Another computer for downloading the ISO and creating the USB
    • The 32-bit antiX ISO
    • A backup of anything important on the netbook
    • A charger connected throughout installation

    Installing Linux can erase the internal drive. Copy any files you want to keep before continuing.

    05 // CREATE THE BOOTABLE USB

    Before installing antiX, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive using the ISO file downloaded earlier.

    Option 1: Windows – Using Rufus

    If you’re using Windows, Rufus is a popular tool for creating bootable USB drives.

    1. Download Rufus from its official website.
    2. Connect a USB flash drive (at least 4 GB).
    3. Open Rufus and select your USB device.
    4. Click SELECT and choose the downloaded antiX ISO.
    5. For older BIOS-based netbooks, select MBR as the partition scheme and BIOS as the target system, where these options are available.
    6. Click START and follow the prompts.

    Warning: Creating the bootable USB will erase the existing contents of the selected drive.

    Option 2: Linux – Using GNOME Disks

    If you’re already using Linux, you can create the bootable USB using GNOME Disks.

    1. Connect your USB drive.
    2. Open GNOME Disks.
    3. Select the USB drive from the device list.
    4. Open the drive menu and choose Restore Disk Image.
    5. Select the antiX ISO file.
    6. Confirm and allow the image-writing process to finish.

    Once completed, safely eject the USB drive. You’re now ready to boot the HP Mini.

    06 // BOOT THE HP MINI FROM USB

    Connect the charger and insert the USB drive while the HP Mini is powered off.

    On the HP Mini 110, press Esc repeatedly immediately after powering it on to open the Startup Menu. Select the boot-device menu—normally F9—and choose the USB drive.

    On another netbook, the key may be F12, F10, F9, Esc or Delete.

    If the USB drive does not appear:

    • Recreate it using an MBR/BIOS-compatible layout
    • Try another USB port
    • Check that USB boot is enabled in the BIOS
    • Disable any quick-boot option if present
    • Confirm that you downloaded the 32-bit ISO

    These machines predate modern UEFI-only installation assumptions, so legacy BIOS compatibility matters.

    07 // TEST THE LIVE SYSTEM FIRST

    antiX can run as a live system before anything is installed on the internal drive. Boot the default live option and allow the desktop to load.

    Before starting the installation, I recommend checking the following:

    • Keyboard and touchpad
    • Display resolution and brightness controls
    • Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity
    • Audio
    • USB ports
    • Battery detection

    Testing the live environment is a useful way to identify potential hardware compatibility issues before making changes to the internal drive.

    WI-FI CONNECTIVITY ISSUE

    During my initial testing, I encountered an issue with the HP Mini 110’s wireless connectivity. The built-in Wi-Fi adapter was not functioning as expected, preventing me from establishing a reliable wireless connection.

    To work around this, I connected the netbook directly to my network using an Ethernet cable. This allowed me to continue with the installation and download the necessary system updates without relying on Wi-Fi.

    After completing the installation, I investigated the wireless connectivity issue further and discovered that the correct driver was not being used.

    Once the appropriate driver was installed and configured, the wireless adapter started working correctly. Since resolving the driver issue, I haven’t experienced any further problems with wireless connectivity.

    This is something worth keeping in mind when working with older hardware. Even if a component doesn’t work immediately, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is unsupported. Sometimes, installing the correct driver or firmware is all that is needed.

    PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

    Do not expect instant performance when running antiX from a USB drive. Older USB interfaces and slower flash drives can make the live environment feel less responsive than the final installation.

    The important thing at this stage is to verify that the essential hardware works and that the system is suitable for installation.

    08 // CONNECT TO THE NETWORK

    As mentioned before If the internal Wi-Fi adapter is supported, use the network manager in the antiX desktop to select your network and enter its password.

    Old wireless adapters can be unpredictable. If the internal card cannot see modern networks or repeatedly disconnects, useful alternatives include:

    • Connecting temporarily with Ethernet
    • Using a small Linux-compatible USB Wi-Fi adapter
    • Downloading any required firmware from another computer

    This is worth testing before installation because network access makes system updates much easier.

    09 // INSTALL ANTIX

    Start the antiX installer from the live desktop or application menu.

    The exact wording can vary slightly between antiX releases, but the process follows the same general order:

    1. Choose the keyboard layout and language.
    2. Select the internal drive.
    3. Choose automatic installation using the entire disk, unless you specifically need manual partitioning or dual boot.
    4. Confirm the partition changes carefully.
    5. Choose the computer name.
    6. Create the normal user account and password.
    7. Set the administrator/root password if requested.
    8. Select the location and time zone.
    9. Install the bootloader to the internal disk.
    10. Wait for the files to be copied.

    For a dedicated Linux netbook, allowing the installer to use the entire drive is the simplest approach. It also erases the existing Windows installation and all files on that disk.

    Read the disk-selection screen carefully. If more than one drive is connected, verify the model and capacity before confirming any partition changes.

    10 // FIRST BOOT

    When installation finishes, shut down or restart the computer and remove the USB drive when prompted.

    The first boot from an old mechanical hard drive may take some time. Once the desktop appears, confirm the installed architecture:

    uname -m

    On the HP Mini with the 32-bit antiX image, the result should identify a 32-bit x86 system.

    You can also record the complete system information for the project:

    inxi -Fxxxz

    The -z option filters some sensitive network information, which makes the output safer for screenshots.

    11 // UPDATE THE SYSTEM

    After connecting to the internet, update the package lists and installed software:

    sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

    Let the process finish, then restart if the update installs a new kernel or other core components.

    On old hardware, the first large update can take considerably longer than it would on a modern SSD. Slow package installation does not necessarily mean that the system has frozen.

    12 // KEEP THE DESKTOP LIGHT

    The Atom N270 is the main limitation, so every unnecessary background task matters more than it would on a modern laptop.

    My approach is simple:

    • Keep the default lightweight window manager
    • Avoid heavy startup applications
    • Open only a few browser tabs
    • Prefer lightweight native applications
    • Use the terminal where it makes sense
    • Avoid expecting modern HD streaming performance

    Installing a heavier desktop environment would remove much of the reason for choosing antiX.

    An SSD can improve boot times and application loading, but it cannot turn the Atom processor into a modern CPU. The goal is responsiveness within realistic limits.

    13 // WHAT THE HP MINI CAN STILL DO

    With antiX installed, the HP Mini can still be useful for:

    • Writing and editing text
    • Terminal and SSH access
    • Lightweight web browsing
    • Learning Linux commands
    • Playing DOS and older games
    • Running small scripts
    • Displaying documentation beside another computer
    • Acting as a deliberately limited, distraction-free machine

    The modern web is the hardest workload. Heavy JavaScript, advertising, video playback and several open tabs can overwhelm the Atom processor quickly.

    For local software and simple tasks, however, the machine feels far more useful than its specifications suggest.

    14 // LIMITATIONS TO EXPECT

    Reviving old hardware is more interesting when the limitations are stated honestly.

    32-BIT SOFTWARE AVAILABILITY

    antiX still supports the architecture, but not every third-party application provides a 32-bit Linux build. This will become a larger limitation over time.

    MODERN WEB BROWSING

    Simple pages can work, but complex websites may load slowly. Modern video streaming is not this machine’s strength.

    PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE

    The Atom N270 was designed for low power consumption, not heavy multitasking. One demanding task at a time is the realistic approach.

    OLD STORAGE

    If the netbook still uses its original hard drive, check its SMART health before trusting it with important data. An SSD upgrade can make the system feel much more responsive.

    BATTERY CONDITION

    Original netbook batteries are now very old. Mine still works, but battery condition will vary enormously between individual machines.

    15 // FINAL THOUGHTS

    Installing antiX does not make the HP Mini 110 modern again, and that was never the goal.

    It takes a 32-bit Atom netbook that modern operating systems have largely left behind and gives it a current, lightweight Linux environment. The result is still slow by today’s standards, but it can write, run a terminal, connect to other systems and play older games.

    More importantly, it is useful enough to keep experimenting with.

    The HP Mini is not ready to replace a modern laptop. It is ready for a second life.

    I will also make a full video tutorial on how to install antiX linux on a computer.

    BUILD IT. BREAK IT. LEARN SOMETHING. TRY AGAIN.

    // END OF GUIDE 002

  • Baracuda Manta Gaming Mouse

    Baracuda Manta Gaming Mouse

    REVIEW 006 // BARACUDA MANTA // GAMING MOUSE ON A BUDGET

    //SEPTEMBER 2026

    Gaming mice can get expensive very quickly. But what happens when you go completely in the opposite direction?

    The Baracuda Manta is a wired RGB gaming mouse that sits firmly in the budget category, but on paper it comes with features normally associated with much more expensive gaming mice. You get an optical sensor capable of up to 12,800 DPI, 8 buttons, 1000 Hz polling, RGB lighting and software support, all packed into an 81 g mouse.

    I’ve now been using the Manta for around three weeks, not only for gaming but also as my everyday mouse for work and writing. And surprisingly, I actually like it.

    01 // THE MANTA

    The Manta is very clearly trying to be a gaming mouse. It has the aggressive shape, plenty of buttons, adjustable DPI and, of course, a healthy amount of RGB lighting. But I’ve actually ended up using it much more as an everyday mouse than purely as a gaming peripheral.

    That’s probably the more interesting test anyway.

    It’s easy to make a cheap mouse look good on a specification sheet. The question is whether you still want to use it after a few weeks.

    02 // SPECS

    For something this inexpensive, the specification list is surprisingly long.

    • Optical Instant 825 sensor
    • Up to 12,800 DPI
    • 8 buttons
    • 1000 Hz polling rate
    • Up to 20 G acceleration
    • RGB lighting with 16.8 million colours
    • Software support
    • USB 2.0 wired connection
    • 1.5 m cable
    • 81 g
    • 126 × 82 × 42 mm
    • Rated for more than 5 million clicks
    • Windows and macOS support

    As always, numbers don’t tell you everything.

    After three weeks, the shape and button placement have mattered much more to me than the maximum DPI number.

    03 // UNBOXING

    The packaging is straightforward. Take the mouse out, connect the USB cable and you’re basically ready to go. That’s still one thing I like about simple wired peripherals. There is no battery to charge. No Bluetooth pairing. No wireless receiver to lose.

    Plug it in, the RGB comes alive, and start using it.

    04 // DESIGN & COMFORT

    This is probably one of the most important things to know about the Manta:

    It’s quite a large mouse. For me, that works well. I find the shape comfortable and after several weeks of use I haven’t had any problems using it for longer periods. But if you have smaller hands, I could definitely see the Manta feeling too big.

    So this isn’t necessarily a mouse I would recommend buying purely from the specification sheet without considering its size. The overall design is also something I genuinely like. It has that unmistakable gaming-mouse appearance without going completely overboard.

    And then there is the RGB. The lighting is easily one of my favourite parts of the Manta. It looks much better in person than I expected from such an inexpensive mouse and gives it considerably more personality when sitting on the desk.

    The cable is also perfectly acceptable for the price. It doesn’t feel especially premium and it isn’t something I would point to as a standout feature, but it also hasn’t given me any problems during normal use.

    In other words: it’s fine, but nothing to brag about.

    05 // WEIGHT

    At around 81 grams, the Manta isn’t particularly heavy. At the same time, I wouldn’t describe it as an ultra-light gaming mouse either. It sits somewhere in the middle.For normal desktop use and the kind of games I play, that has been perfectly fine.

    If you’re heavily into competitive multiplayer games and specifically want the lightest mouse possible, you’ll probably be looking at a completely different category of product anyway.

    For my use, the weight hasn’t bothered me.

    06 // BUTTONS

    This is where the Manta has actually surprised me the most.

    The two side buttons are positioned well and I’ve ended up using them a lot while working. They’re easy to reach without having to awkwardly change my grip, and after a few weeks they’ve become part of my normal workflow. There’s also an additional button next to the main left mouse button. I initially thought of it mostly as another gaming feature, but I’ve found it surprisingly useful when I’m doing a lot of text work and repeatedly working with copied text.

    These extra buttons have probably been more useful to me while working than while gaming.

    The DPI button is also conveniently positioned and lets you quickly switch sensitivity. If you play a lot of competitive or multiplayer games, being able to change DPI quickly could be genuinely useful. For me personally, it isn’t particularly important because I don’t really play multiplayer games.

    Still, it’s nice to have.

    07 // CLICKS & SCROLL WHEEL

    The buttons themselves feel good enough for everyday use.

    After several weeks I haven’t noticed anything that would make me want to stop using the mouse. The scroll wheel, on the other hand, is probably one of the least exciting parts of the Manta. It’s fine. It works. But that’s about it.

    I would describe it as average rather than particularly good or bad.

    Considering the price of the mouse, though, that’s not exactly a major complaint.

    08 // SOFTWARE

    Baracuda also provides software for the Manta, which should allow additional configuration of the mouse. Unfortunately, this is one part I haven’t been able to properly test yet. On most of my LAB computers I run Linux, but software is only supported for Windows.

    So I’m not going to judge the software without any test,beacuse for this review, I’ve mainly been using the mouse as it works out of the box.

    And honestly, even without touching the software, I’ve been perfectly happy using it.

    09 // THREE WEEKS LATER

    This is where the Manta has done better than I originally expected. I’ve been using it for roughly three weeks now for normal desktop work, writing and some gaming, and I haven’t felt the need to replace it. That’s probably one of the best things I can say about a cheap peripheral.

    The large shape works well for my hands. The side buttons are genuinely useful. The extra button has found its place in my normal work routine. The RGB looks great. The cable is good enough for normal use. And despite clearly being a budget product, nothing about it has made me want to immediately go back to another mouse.

    There are better mice. There are lighter mice. There are certainly more premium mice.

    But the Manta has been completely usable as an everyday mouse.

    10 // VERDICT

    After around three weeks with the Baracuda Manta, I like it more than I expected to. Its biggest consideration is probably its size. If you have larger hands, the shape can be very comfortable. If your hands are smaller, I would be a little more careful because this is definitely not a compact mouse.

    The RGB looks great, the button placement is genuinely useful and the mouse has worked just as well for everyday productivity as it has for casual gaming. The scroll wheel is average, the cable is nothing special and I haven’t been able to test the software yet.

    But that’s also missing the point. This is a very inexpensive gaming mouse. And after three weeks, I’m still happily using it every day.

    For a budget peripheral, that’s a pretty successful result.

    Spoiler: the keyboard isn’t here by accident.

    // END OF REVIEW 006

  • TP-Link TL-WN725N Review – This Tiny Wi-Fi Dongle Fixed My ThinkPad

    TP-Link TL-WN725N Review – This Tiny Wi-Fi Dongle Fixed My ThinkPad

    REVIEW 006 // TP-LINK TL-WN725N // NANO USB WI-FI ADAPTER

    SEPTEMBER 2026

    A tiny and inexpensive USB Wi-Fi adapter turned out to be the simplest solution to the wireless problems on my ThinkPad SL510. Here is the unboxing, Linux setup, size comparison and real-world performance test.

    01 // WHY I NEEDED A USB WI-FI DONGLE

    While experimenting with Linux on my ThinkPad SL510, I encountered a frustrating problem with its internal Wi-Fi adapter.

    The system could see the wireless hardware, but connecting to my network was unreliable. At one point, NetworkManager repeatedly reported that the Wi-Fi network could not be found, even when the laptop was close to the router and other devices were connected normally.

    I experimented with different Linux installations and possible solutions, but I ultimately wanted something simple that would allow me to continue using the laptop instead of spending more time fighting its old internal wireless hardware.

    The answer was a small USB Wi-Fi dongle.

    I bought this nano adapter from a local computer shop in Ivančna Gorica. My main requirement was simple: it needed to work under Linux, provide enough speed for everyday browsing and remain small enough to leave permanently connected to the ThinkPad.

    02 // QUICK UNBOXING

    The packaging is basic, which is exactly what I expected from an inexpensive USB Wi-Fi adapter.

    Inside the package, you receive:

    • The nano USB Wi-Fi adapter
    • Driver disc
    • Quick Setup Guide
    • Basic product documentation

    There is no complicated setup hardware and nothing unnecessary. The adapter itself is the main attraction, and it really is tiny.

    The short unboxing video above shows the packaging, included contents and the size of the adapter before installing it in the ThinkPad.

    03 // SPECIFICATIONS AND SIZE

    The TP-Link TL-WN725N is a compact Wireless N USB adapter designed to add Wi-Fi connectivity without leaving a large device sticking out of the laptop.

    It connects through USB 2.0 and supports IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n networks on the 2.4 GHz band. TP-Link advertises a maximum wireless link rate of up to 150 Mbps. This is not the same as a guaranteed internet speed, but it should be sufficient for browsing, downloading updates, streaming video and other everyday tasks.

    Specifications:

    • Model: TP-Link TL-WN725N
    • Product type: Wireless N Nano USB Adapter
    • Interface: USB 2.0
    • Wireless standards: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
    • Frequency: 2.4 GHz
    • Maximum advertised rate: Up to 150 Mbps
    • Antenna: Internal
    • Dimensions: 18.6 × 15 × 7.1 mm
    • Weight: 2.1 g
    • Wireless security: WEP, WPA/WPA2 and WPA/WPA2-PSK
    • Official operating-system support: Windows and Linux

    The nano design is one of the TL-WN725N’s biggest advantages. Once inserted, only a small part of the adapter remains outside the USB port. It is noticeably smaller than a normal USB flash drive and is closer in size to the receiver supplied with a wireless mouse.

    This makes it particularly suitable for a laptop like my ThinkPad SL510. I can leave it connected while carrying the laptop around, without having a large adapter protruding from its side. It still occupies one USB port, but its compact body does not block the neighbouring connections.

    A larger adapter with an external antenna would likely provide better range, but the purpose of the TL-WN725N is convenience. It is designed to be inserted once and left in place, which is exactly what I wanted for the ThinkPad.

    04 // LINUX SETUP

    I tested the dongle on the ThinkPad SL510 running Linux Mint 22.3.

    After inserting it into a free USB port, the wireless networks appeared in the network menu. I selected my home network, entered the password and connected normally.

    This is exactly the experience I wanted. Instead of troubleshooting the ThinkPad’s internal wireless adapter again, I could insert the dongle and get back online.

    For anyone considering a similar adapter specifically for Linux, chipset support is more important than the name printed on the packaging. Two visually identical nano adapters can sometimes use different internal chipsets, so it is worth checking the exact model before buying.

    05 // SPEED AND SIGNAL-STRENGTH TEST

    A nano Wi-Fi adapter does not need to break speed records to be useful in an older laptop. It needs to provide a stable connection that is fast enough for web browsing, updates, video playback and writing.

    In my initial test, this adapter reached approximately 30 Mbps. That is more than enough for how I use the ThinkPad SL510.

    Test results:

    Test locationSignal strengthDownloadUploadPing
    Close to the routerFull signalApproximately 30 MbpsApproximately 35 Mbps5 ms
    Garage Half of the signalApproximately 3.5 Mbps4.5 Mbps8 ms

    It is important to treat these results as a test of the complete setup, rather than the absolute maximum performance of the TL-WN725N. The ThinkPad SL510 is an older laptop, and its USB controller, processor, operating system, browser and other hardware limitations may all influence the final measured speed. USB 2.0 itself should provide more than enough bandwidth for this adapter, but the age of the overall platform can still affect real-world performance.

    The location also presents a difficult Wi-Fi environment. My garage is situated in the lower part of the house, with the wireless signal travelling through several concrete walls before reaching the laptop. This can significantly reduce both signal strength and throughput. Considering the age of the ThinkPad and the challenging location, the result is still perfectly adequate for browsing, writing and downloading updates.

    06 // DAILY USE

    The greatest compliment I can give this adapter is that I barely notice it.

    It remains inserted in the ThinkPad and provides the wireless connection whenever I start the laptop. Its small size means I do not have to remove it when moving the computer between rooms, and it does not make the side of the laptop look cluttered.

    During everyday browsing and writing, the approximately 50 Mbps connection feels completely adequate. The ThinkPad itself is far more likely to become the limiting factor than the Wi-Fi dongle.

    A nano adapter may not be the best solution for maximum range, very fast local file transfers or competitive online gaming. For restoring dependable wireless connectivity to an older Linux laptop, however, it makes a lot of sense.

    07 // FINAL THOUGHTS

    This tiny USB Wi-Fi dongle solved a real problem with minimal effort.

    Instead of continuing to troubleshoot the ThinkPad SL510’s internal Wi-Fi adapter, I now have a compact and affordable solution that works for my everyday Linux use. It is small enough to remain permanently installed and its approximately 50 Mbps real-world speed is sufficient for browsing, writing, software downloads and online video.

    What I liked:

    • Very compact nano design
    • Simple Linux setup
    • Fast enough for everyday use
    • Can remain permanently connected
    • Affordable solution for an older laptop

    What could be better

    • Less range than adapters with external antennas
    • Occupies one of the ThinkPad’s USB ports
    • Exact Linux compatibility may depend on the internal chipset
    • Not intended for maximum wireless performance

    If you have an older laptop with an unsupported or unreliable internal Wi-Fi adapter, a compatible nano USB dongle can be one of the easiest ways to bring it back online.

    It may not be the most exciting upgrade inside the OpenBootLab, but it turned my ThinkPad from an offline project into a useful Linux writing machine, and sometimes the smallest upgrades make the biggest difference.

    // END OF THE REVIEW 005

  • Free Software in the Mail – FSFE Sticker Pack

    Free Software in the Mail – FSFE Sticker Pack

    LAB NOTE 005 // FOSS // FSFE // STICKERS

    SEPTEMBER 2026

    Sometimes the best upgrades don’t need more RAM, a faster SSD or a new CPU.

    Sometimes they just arrive in an envelope.

    A few days ago, I got in touch with the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). Today, an envelope from Berlin arrived at OpenBootLab, filled with stickers, Free Software material and a few other surprises.

    Naturally, it didn’t take long before some of them found their way onto a ThinkPad.

    02 // WHAT IS THE FSFE?

    The Free Software Foundation Europe, usually shortened to FSFE, is a charitable organisation that has been working to promote software freedom in Europe since 2001.

    Their goal is to empower people to control the technology they use. When we talk about Free Software, the important part isn’t necessarily the price. It’s about freedom, having the ability to use, study, share and improve software. FSFE works on this from several directions, including public awareness, policy, legal support, education and campaigns surrounding digital freedom.

    Learn more about the Free Software Foundation Europe

    And that philosophy fits OpenBootLab rather nicely.

    A lot of what happens here involves taking older hardware and finding new ways to use it. Linux and Free Software can often keep machines useful long after their original operating systems and manufacturers have moved on.

    Sometimes a computer doesn’t need replacing. It just needs a different purpose.

    03 // THE THINKPAD GETS INVOLVED

    It was probably inevitable that at least a few of these stickers would end up on the ThinkPad. The machine has already become one of the regular OpenBootLab systems, and it somehow feels like the right place for a few Free Software stickers.

    The first ones I picked were some of the designs that fit the spirit of the project best:

    HACKING 0100 FREEDOM
    THERE IS NO CLOUD, JUST OTHER PEOPLE’S COMPUTERS
    REUSE SOFTWARE,
    THIS COMPUTER IS NOT OLD, IT IS SUSTAINABLE
    FSFE LOGO

    They work surprisingly well on an old ThinkPad that is still being used for Linux, writing, testing and whatever else ends up happening on the bench. I’m not planning to cover the whole machine though. A few stickers are enough to give it some character, and the rest can wait for other hardware. There are definitely enough machines around here that they’ll eventually find a home.

    And before the rest disappear onto laptops, cases and other hardware, here is the full set that arrived from FSFE together with the letter included in the package.

    04 // GET IN TOUCH WITH FSFE

    If you want to learn more about FSFE, their campaigns or the work they’re doing around Free Software in Europe, their website is the best place to start.

    Free Software Foundation Europe

    FSFE also maintains several ways for people to get involved with the community, including local groups, mailing lists and online communication channels.

    FSFE — Get Involved

    For general enquiries, FSFE can also be contacted through the details provided on their official contact page.

    FSFE — Contact

    05 // THANK YOU, FSFE

    Finally, a big thank you to the FSFE team for sending all of this over.

    It’s a small thing, but it’s genuinely cool seeing organisations supporting the Free Software community with material like this — and several of these stickers already look very much at home in the lab.

    The ThinkPad has claimed a few.

    The rest?

    They’ll have to wait and see which machine comes across the bench next.

    // FREE SOFTWARE // OLD HARDWARE // KEEP EXPERIMENTING

    // END OF LAB NOTE 005

  • Logitech M190 Wireless Mouse – Unboxing & Quick Review

    Logitech M190 Wireless Mouse – Unboxing & Quick Review

    REVIEW 004 // LOGITECH M190 // SIMPLE WIRELESS MOUSE FOR EVERYDAY USE

    SEPTEMBER 2026

    A simple full-size wireless mouse for around €15. But is there really anything more you need?

    01 // WHY I BOUGHT IT

    I’ve recently been putting several older laptops back into use for OpenBootLab, and that created a very simple problem: I needed a wireless mouse.

    I wasn’t looking for RGB lighting, gaming features or software with twenty different settings. I wanted something inexpensive, reliable and comfortable enough to throw into a laptop bag and use without thinking about it. That led me to the Logitech M190.

    Logitech has been making inexpensive mice like this for years, and the M190 is about as straightforward as they come: a full-size wireless mouse, a tiny USB receiver and not much else. So I bought one to see whether a basic mouse like this is really all you need for an everyday laptop.

    02 // UNBOXING

    There really isn’t much ceremony here. Inside the packaging you get the Logitech M190, its small USB receiver and the included AA battery. The receiver can be stored inside the mouse when you’re not using it, which is particularly useful if the M190 spends most of its time travelling inside a laptop bag.

    Setup is exactly what you’d expect. Plug the receiver into a free USB port, switch on the mouse and start using it. No account. No pairing process. No additional software required for basic operation.

    03 // DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY

    The M190 is a full-size mouse, which is one of the main reasons I chose it over some of Logitech’s smaller portable models.

    The shape is simple and fairly conventional, with a curved body and textured sides that provide some additional grip.

    Build quality feels appropriate for an inexpensive Logitech mouse. It’s almost entirely plastic and doesn’t pretend to be a premium peripheral, but nothing immediately feels particularly fragile either. There are only the essentials: left and right buttons, a clickable scroll wheel and an on/off switch underneath.

    And honestly, that’s part of the appeal.

    04 // USING IT

    I’ve been using the M190 with both my ThinkPad SL510 and the HP Mini 110 that I recently brought back to life with antiX Linux.

    The ThinkPad has recently become my main writing laptop for OpenBootLab, while the HP Mini is more of a lightweight Linux and home-lab machine. The M190 worked without any problems with both. Plug in the USB receiver and it is ready to go, including under antiX on the Mini.

    For writing articles, browsing WordPress, working with files, using the terminal and normal desktop work, the M190 does exactly what I wanted it to do. Tracking feels perfectly adequate, the wireless connection has been trouble-free so far, and I haven’t found myself thinking about the mouse while using it.

    That’s probably one of the better compliments you can give a basic peripheral.

    For gaming, however, the M190 wouldn’t be my first choice. It is perfectly fine for an occasional casual game, but this isn’t a gaming mouse. There are no additional buttons, adjustable DPI settings or other gaming-focused features, and the overall feel is clearly designed around everyday productivity rather than fast or competitive gameplay. That’s not really a criticism of the M190, it simply isn’t what this mouse was designed for.

    For web browsing, writing, office work, terminal use and general laptop use, however, I haven’t felt like I’m missing anything.

    05 // THE USB RECEIVER

    One disadvantage compared with Bluetooth mice is that the M190 requires its dedicated USB receiver. On an older laptop like my ThinkPad, that’s not much of a problem. There are traditional USB-A ports available, so I can simply leave the receiver connected.

    The receiver itself is also tiny enough that it barely protrudes from the laptop. For newer ultrabooks with very few USB ports, or machines equipped only with USB-C, this approach is obviously less convenient. For the old hardware I’m using it with, however, it’s almost ideal.

    06 // COMFORT AND EVERYDAY USE

    After using the Logitech M190 regularly for about five days, I’ve had enough time to get a good feel for how comfortable it is during everyday use.

    The first thing worth mentioning is the size. The M190 is a full-size mouse and seems better suited to larger hands. For me, that works well and I find it comfortable even during longer sessions. If you have smaller hands, however, the M190 might feel a little too large, especially compared with more compact laptop mice.

    The main buttons feel good and have a satisfying click without being excessively loud. The sound is restrained enough that I would have no problem using the M190 in an office or other quiet environment.

    The scroll wheel is similarly straightforward. It doesn’t feel particularly premium, but for web browsing, scrolling through documents and working in WordPress, it does exactly what I need it to do. After several days of using it with both the ThinkPad SL510 and HP Mini 110, comfort hasn’t been an issue. It’s not trying to reinvent the mouse—it simply provides a comfortable, predictable experience for normal everyday work.

    For the kind of inexpensive everyday mouse the M190 is supposed to be, that’s more than adequate.

    07 // A BORING MOUSE — IN A GOOD WAY

    The Logitech M190 isn’t an exciting mouse, and after using it for several days, I think that’s actually one of its strengths.

    There is no RGB lighting, no software to configure, no adjustable DPI and no collection of extra buttons. You plug the tiny USB receiver into your computer, switch the mouse on and start using it. For gaming, I would definitely look elsewhere. But for the job I bought it for—writing, browsing, working on OpenBootLab and general everyday computer use—I don’t really need anything more.

    I’ve used it with both my ThinkPad SL510 and HP Mini 110, and it has worked exactly as expected with both machines. The full-size body fits my hands well, the buttons feel good, the clicks are quiet enough for office use and the scroll wheel is perfectly adequate for browsing and documents.

    It’s also exactly the kind of peripheral that makes sense with older hardware. There’s no software dependency or complicated setup to worry about. Just a USB receiver and a mouse. The M190 isn’t going to make an old laptop more exciting. It just makes it easier to use.

    And for a simple everyday wireless mouse, that’s really all I wanted.

    // END OF THE REVIEW

  • HP Mini 110 in 2026 -Atom Netbook with antiX Linux

    HP Mini 110 in 2026 -Atom Netbook with antiX Linux

    LAB NOTE 004 // HP MINI 110 // ANTIX // 32-BIT LINUX

    SEPTEMBER 2026

    The HP Mini 110 comes from an era when netbooks were everywhere. These tiny and inexpensive computers were designed for basic browsing, writing and accessing the internet while travelling.

    Today, their limited memory and ageing Intel Atom processors make them difficult to use with modern software. My particular HP Mini is powered by the 32-bit Intel Atom N270, which restricts the choice of supported operating systems even further.

    With the right lightweight Linux distribution, could this little netbook still serve a useful purpose in 2026?

    I recently acquired this white HP Mini 110 Special Edition as part of a €95 bundle containing four older laptops. It turned out to be one of the most interesting machines in the entire collection.

    01 // THE LAPTOP HAUL

    The HP Mini 110 arrived together with three other laptops:

    • Lenovo ThinkPad SL510
    • Dell Inspiron 1545
    • Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3545
    • HP Mini 110 Special Edition

    All four computers were working, which already made the €95 bundle a surprisingly good purchase.

    The batteries in the three larger Core 2 Duo laptops were effectively dead. Surprisingly, the little HP Mini was the only machine in the collection that could still run from its original battery.

    That immediately made it more interesting as a genuinely portable retro computer.

    The HP Mini 110 was the smallest of the four laptops, and interestingly, the only one that arrived with a working battery. You can read more about the full €90 laptop haul here.

    02 // THE TORD BOONTJE SPECIAL EDITION

    This is not an ordinary black netbook like the Asus EeePC.

    The model number printed on my machine is VT867EA#BED, but what makes it particularly interesting is its design. This is the HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje, a special edition created in collaboration with Dutch designer Tord Boontje.

    Its white exterior is covered with an intricate floral pattern extending across the lid and palm rest. The layered design includes flowers, branches and small animals hidden among the details. It gives the netbook an appearance unlike almost any modern laptop.

    The design is unmistakably connected to the late 2000s and early 2010s—a period when computer manufacturers were much more willing to experiment with colours, patterns and unusual limited editions.

    The distinctive floral artwork makes this much more interesting than an ordinary old netbook.

    The finish has collected some marks over the years, but the netbook remains in good overall condition. I initially considered covering parts of it with black vinyl, although I am now hesitant to hide such a distinctive part of the machine’s identity.

    Its small display and compact keyboard make it considerably smaller than a conventional laptop. Combined with the unusual Tord Boontje artwork, it feels more like a preserved piece of netbook history than an ordinary old computer.

    03 // THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS 7 STARTER INSTALLATION

    When I received the HP Mini 110, it still had its original Windows 7 Starter installation.

    Windows 7 Starter was a simplified edition of Windows created primarily for inexpensive netbooks. It offered fewer features than the other Windows 7 editions, but its lower hardware requirements made it a logical choice for machines such as the HP Mini 110.

    Booting into the original installation felt like opening a small time capsule from the netbook era. Alongside Windows 7, HP had installed a considerable amount of additional software and bloatware.

    One of the most noticeable additions was a game centre containing a collection of casual games. The selection included familiar titles such as Mahjong and Bejeweled, together with several other games divided across different categories and levels.

    The original Windows 7 Starter installation was still present when I received the netbook.

    The game centre was one of several additional programs preinstalled on the machine.

    It is the kind of software package that was commonly installed on consumer laptops during this period. It adds to the authentic late-2000s experience, although it also consumes valuable storage and resources on a machine with very limited hardware.

    The original installation was interesting to explore, but Windows 7 is no longer a suitable choice for a computer that will regularly connect to the internet. Instead of trying to turn it back into a practical everyday Windows machine, I decided to see whether lightweight Linux could give it a more useful second life.

    04 // THE 32-BIT ATOM PROBLEM

    The HP Mini 110 is powered by an Intel Atom N270, a single-core processor with two threads running at up to 1.60 GHz. It is paired with just 1 GB of RAM and, in my machine, a conventional 5400 RPM hard drive.

    Even by modern low-end standards, that is an extremely limited combination. The 1 GB of memory leaves very little room for multitasking, while the mechanical hard drive makes loading applications and starting the operating system noticeably slower than what we are used to with SSDs today.

    More importantly, the Atom N270 uses a 32-bit architecture. This significantly restricts the choice of modern operating systems because many Linux distributions no longer provide versions for 32-bit computers.

    Atom processors were originally designed to consume little power and keep netbooks inexpensive. Even when these machines were new, performance was never their strongest feature. More than a decade later, modern websites and applications can easily overwhelm them.

    Installing a conventional modern operating system would leave very few resources available for actual programs. Windows 10 or a feature-heavy Linux desktop would therefore make little sense on this hardware.

    The challenge was not to make the HP Mini fast by modern standards. That would be impossible.

    The goal was to find a lightweight 32-bit operating system capable of making its limited hardware useful again.

    05 // INSTALLING ANTIX LINUX

    For this experiment, I installed the 32-bit version of antiX Linux.

    antiX is designed to work on older and resource-constrained computers. It avoids many of the heavy components found in mainstream desktop Linux distributions and provides a lightweight environment that remains practical on limited hardware.

    Just as importantly, its availability for 32-bit hardware makes it suitable for systems powered by processors such as the Atom N270.

    This made antiX a much more appropriate choice for the HP Mini 110 than the heavier Linux installations I use on my more powerful computers.

    The result is not instant or especially fast, but the system is responsive enough to navigate, open lightweight applications and use the machine without constantly fighting the operating system.

    Simply getting a usable Linux system running on hardware of this age already feels like a small victory. Here is what a full antiX boot looks like on the HP Mini 110 with its Atom N270, 1 GB of RAM and original 5400 RPM hard drive:

    It is certainly not instant, but considering the age and limitations of the hardware, the result is surprisingly usable.

    06 // FIXING THE WI-FI

    The first issue appeared shortly after installing antiX: the internal Wi-Fi was not working correctly.

    That was an important problem because a small portable computer loses much of its usefulness if it must remain connected through an Ethernet cable.

    After some troubleshooting, I managed to get the wireless connection working. The HP Mini could finally connect to the network without needing an additional external adapter.

    This is exactly the sort of small obstacle I expect when bringing old hardware back into service. The components may still work, but modern operating systems do not always support every old device immediately.

    Once Wi-Fi was working, I could begin testing what the netbook was actually capable of doing.

    With the internal Wi-Fi working, the HP Mini became a genuinely portable Linux machine again.

    07 // WHAT CAN IT STILL DO?

    The modern web is probably the worst possible workload for an old Atom netbook.

    Many websites now contain heavy scripts, advertisements, animations and background processes. Even a simple page can require considerably more processing power and memory than an entire desktop environment from the HP Mini’s original era.

    Lightweight browsing is still possible, but expectations need to remain realistic. Simple pages work much better than large modern websites, and opening multiple browser tabs quickly becomes impractical.

    The machine is much more convincing when used for focused, lightweight tasks:

    • Writing text and notes
    • Basic file management
    • Using the Linux terminal
    • Connecting to IRC
    • Running terminal-based applications
    • Managing files on other computers
    • Lightweight network administration
    • Experimenting with older software
    • Learning more about Linux without distractions

    These tasks suit the hardware much better than trying to use it like a modern multimedia laptop.

    Of course, knowing that this is an old Atom-powered netbook did not stop me from trying a game or two.

    The HP Mini is clearly not a gaming machine, but lightweight and older games are still worth experimenting with. Simple puzzle games, classic PC titles, DOS games and other less-demanding releases are a much better match for its limited hardware than anything modern. Testing games on computers that were never designed for gaming is also part of the fun. I do not expect impressive performance, but finding a few titles that run well could give the HP Mini another entertaining purpose.

    I plan to cover my gaming results in a separate OpenBootLab lab note. Here’s Freedoom running on the HP Mini 110:

    08 // A PORTABLE TERMINAL MACHINE

    The most interesting role for the HP Mini may be as a small portable terminal.

    Terminal applications require far fewer resources than modern graphical software. An IRC client, text editor, file manager or remote connection can run without placing the same load on the Atom processor as a modern browser. The small screen also makes more sense in this context. It is restrictive for complicated websites, but perfectly suitable for displaying a terminal, writing a document or monitoring another computer.

    I have also been exploring terminal-based browsers and music clients. Not every modern service will work perfectly on hardware this old, but experimenting with these tools is part of the fun.

    Rather than asking the HP Mini to do everything, I can give it a small number of specific jobs that match its capabilities.

    09 // DISTRACTION-FREE WRITING

    Another possible use is as a dedicated writing machine for OpenBootLab.

    A modern computer makes it incredibly easy to become distracted by videos, social media, notifications and dozens of open browser tabs. The HP Mini does not encourage that kind of multitasking because it simply does not have the performance for it. That limitation could actually be useful.

    With a lightweight text editor, the netbook could provide a simple environment for drafting articles and taking project notes. The keyboard is small, so I would not choose it for writing an entire book, but it could work well for preparing short drafts away from my main computer.

    Sometimes a machine becomes more useful when it cannot do everything.

    10 // THE LIMITATIONS

    Installing antiX does not magically turn the HP Mini 110 into a fast computer.

    Its limitations remain obvious:

    • The Atom N270 is extremely slow by current standards.
    • Its 32-bit architecture limits software and operating-system compatibility.
    • The available memory is very limited.
    • Modern websites can take a long time to load.
    • Multiple browser tabs quickly reduce responsiveness.
    • Modern video streaming is demanding.
    • The small display limits the usable workspace.
    • The compact keyboard requires some adjustment.

    This is not a replacement for a modern laptop or Chromebook.

    However, that is also not the point of the experiment. The HP Mini is interesting because it shows how much usefulness can still be recovered from hardware that most people would now consider obsolete.

    11 // GIVING THE HP MINI A SECOND LIFE

    The experiment with antiX proved that the HP Mini 110 can still be useful, but I am not quite finished with the hardware yet.

    The first upgrade I would like to make is increasing the memory from 1 GB to 2 GB of RAM, assuming I can find a compatible module. Two gigabytes is still tiny by modern standards, but on a lightweight 32-bit Linux installation it should provide noticeably more breathing room.

    The other obvious upgrade is storage. My HP Mini currently has its original-style 250 GB 5400 RPM mechanical hard drive, and replacing it with an SSD should make the system feel much more responsive when booting, launching applications and working with files. It will not make the Atom N270 any faster, of course, but it should remove one of the biggest remaining bottlenecks.

    My original idea was to take this a little further and start using the HP Mini as an everyday-carry computer — a tiny machine that I could throw into a bag and use for writing, terminal work and other lightweight tasks.

    There is just one problem with that plan. Since picking up the HP Mini, I have also started using an old ThinkPad SL510. With considerably more processing power, a much larger keyboard and a new replacement battery, the ThinkPad has unexpectedly become my main OpenBootLab writing machine.

    That doesn’t mean the HP Mini is going back onto a shelf, though. Its tiny size, working battery and lightweight antiX installation give it a completely different character. I still want to upgrade it, experiment with it and find out exactly how useful a little Atom-powered netbook can be in 2026.

    As for the ThinkPad? That is a story for another post.

    12 // FINAL THOUGHTS

    The HP Mini 110 is clearly obsolete as a conventional modern laptop. Its Atom N270 struggles with the modern web, 1 GB of RAM leaves very little room for multitasking, and its 32-bit architecture makes finding compatible modern software increasingly difficult.

    But after spending some time with antiX, I don’t think this little netbook needs to be a conventional laptop anymore.

    I can see it becoming a small home-lab terminal that I can keep nearby for connecting to servers and other machines over SSH, using IRC, running terminal applications and handling other lightweight tasks. For that kind of work, raw performance matters far less than having a small computer with a physical keyboard and a working battery. It could also become my truly portable writing machine.

    The ThinkPad SL510 has already taken over as my main OpenBootLab writing laptop. It is considerably more powerful, has a much larger and more comfortable keyboard, and with the replacement battery I recently bought, it has become surprisingly practical for everyday use. I’ll have much more to say about that machine in another post.

    But the ThinkPad is also big and heavy.

    If I’m going for a walk in the woods, spending some time outdoors or going camping with my family, carrying a full-size old ThinkPad around doesn’t make much sense. The HP Mini does. It is small enough to throw into a bag and forget about until I want to sit down somewhere and write a few paragraphs, capture an idea or access something remotely.

    There are still a couple of upgrades I would like to make. If I can find compatible memory, I want to increase it to 2 GB of RAM, and replacing the current 250 GB 5400 RPM hard drive with an SSD should make everyday use considerably more pleasant. Those upgrades won’t suddenly make an Atom N270 fast. They don’t need to.

    For €90, I didn’t just get four working old laptops. I also found a tiny, unusual netbook that may end up having a surprisingly specific place in my setup: part home-lab terminal, part portable writing machine, and part Linux experimentation platform.

    The HP Mini 110 may no longer be fast, but I think I’ve found a reason to keep using it.

    // END OF LAB NOTE 004

  • My €90 Used Laptop Haul

    My €90 Used Laptop Haul

    LAB NOTE 003 // LAPTOP HAUL // USED HARDWARE

    SEPTEMBER 2026

    I was only looking for one cheap laptop, but somehow I ended up buying a bundle of four older machines for €95.

    The haul included a Lenovo ThinkPad SL510, Dell Inspiron 1545, Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3545, and a tiny HP Mini 110. Even better, all four turned out to be working.

    01 // HOW I ENDED UP WITH FOUR LAPTOPS

    I originally started looking for a cheap laptop that I could use mainly for writing OpenBootLab posts, browsing, and some light Linux testing.

    My budget was around €100, and at first I was looking at inexpensive refurbished Chromebooks and other low-cost used laptops. One of the options I was seriously considering was a refurbished Dell Chromebook.

    Instead, I contacted a seller I had bought hardware from before and asked if he had any older laptops available. You may already recognize the seller from the Mainframe project, where I previously bought a €30 bundle of old PC hardware from him. He usually has quite a bit of interesting older hardware around, so I have a feeling this probably will not be the last time something from him ends up in OpenBootLab.

    He had several laptops available, and after going through the options I ended up choosing four of them: a Lenovo ThinkPad SL510, Dell Inspiron 1545, Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3545, and a tiny HP Mini 110.

    The total price for all four was €90.

    What made the deal especially interesting was that I paid less for these four machines combined than I would have paid for the single refurbished Dell Chromebook I had been considering. At that price, I expected at least one of them to be completely dead or to need quite a bit of work.

    Instead, all four powered on and worked.

    So what started as a search for one inexpensive writing laptop somehow turned into four different machines, four potential OpenBootLab projects, and plenty more content for both me to make and you to enjoy.

    02 // WHAT I ACTUALLY GOT

    Now that the story behind the haul is out of the way, it is time to look at the four machines themselves.

    The four laptops are all from slightly different parts of the same era, but they are also very different from each other. There is a business-oriented ThinkPad, a mainstream Dell, an older Fujitsu Siemens machine, and a tiny HP netbook.

    The lineup looks like this:

    • Lenovo ThinkPad SL510
    • Dell Inspiron 1545
    • Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3545
    • HP Mini 110

    All four came with their power adapters, and all four were able to power on. Some of them also already had useful upgrades such as SSDs or additional RAM, which made the deal even more interesting.

    Of course, they are far from perfect. The cases show their age, there are scratches and signs of use, and the batteries on the larger machines are basically finished. But that is also part of the reason I wanted them.

    These are not collector pieces or restored machines. They are old laptops that have clearly been used, and now they get another chance to do something useful.

    From here, I will take a closer look at each one individually.

    03 // LENOVO THINKPAD SL510

    The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 was probably the machine I was most interested in when choosing the four laptops.

    I have always liked the more practical design of older ThinkPads, and this one still has a lot of the features people usually associate with them: a solid keyboard, the red TrackPoint in the middle, a fairly simple black chassis, and a design that is more functional than flashy.

    Cosmetically, it definitely shows its age. The lid has plenty of scratches and marks from years of use, but I actually prefer leaving that visible instead of trying to make it look brand new. This is a used machine, and the wear is part of its history.

    The good news is that the laptop itself works. The main downside is the battery, which is basically dead, so for now it needs to stay connected to the charger.

    My current plan is to turn the SL510 into a simple Linux laptop that I can use for writing OpenBootLab posts, browsing, terminal work, and some light testing. I am also considering replacing the battery later if I can find one at a reasonable price.

    Out of the four laptops, this is probably the one with the best chance of becoming an actual everyday-use machine rather than just another experiment.

    04 // DELL INSPIRON 1545

    The Dell Inspiron 1545 feels quite different from the ThinkPad. It is more of a mainstream consumer laptop from its era, with a simpler design and a glossy finish that definitely shows fingerprints, scratches, and years of use.

    Like the SL510, the important part is that it works.

    One thing I noticed immediately during the first boot was the charger situation. The seller had already mentioned that if I wanted the battery to charge properly, I would probably need to get an original Dell charger. He did not have one available, so he included a compatible HP power adapter instead. It powers the laptop without a problem, but the Inspiron does not recognize it as a proper Dell charger because it is missing Dell’s identification chip. Because of that, the laptop can run from the adapter, but battery charging is limited or unavailable.

    The battery itself is already in poor condition anyway, so this is not a major problem for what I currently want to do with the machine. If I eventually decide to replace the battery, I will probably also look for a proper Dell charger.

    Unlike the ThinkPad, I already have a fairly clear idea for the Inspiron. This will probably become one of my main Linux distribution testing machines, especially for lightweight distributions designed for older hardware. Instead of only testing them inside a virtual machine, I want to see how they actually behave on real hardware from this era.

    That should make the Inspiron useful for future OpenBootLab posts where I can compare different lightweight Linux distributions, installation experiences, hardware support, performance, and how usable they still are on an older laptop.

    So while it may not become my everyday writing machine, it could end up being one of the most frequently experimented-on laptops from the entire haul.

    05 // FUJITSU SIEMENS AMILO PRO V3545

    The Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3545 is probably the most unusual laptop in the group, at least compared with the Dell and ThinkPad. Its design feels noticeably older, with a chunkier chassis, silver trim, and a much more early-2000s business-laptop look. It also stands out visually because of the light-colored keyboard and the large silver hinge area.

    Like the others, it is far from perfect cosmetically. There are scratches, marks, and signs of long-term use, but the machine itself still works, which is what matters most here.

    This one also came with Windows XP already installed, and I have decided to keep it that way.

    Because the laptop has a dedicated NVIDIA graphics card, my plan is to turn the Amilo Pro into an XP gaming laptop for older PC games and software from that era. Instead of trying to modernize it too much, I think it makes more sense to keep it close to the period it originally came from. That should make it useful for testing older games, software, drivers, and other Windows XP-era experiments without needing to set up a virtual machine every time.

    So unlike the Dell, which will mainly become a Linux testing machine, the Amilo already has a much clearer role in the lab: a dedicated Windows XP gaming and retro software machine.

    06 // HP MINI 110

    The HP Mini 110 is easily the most different machine in the whole haul.

    Compared with the other three laptops, it is tiny. The small screen, compact keyboard, and lightweight chassis make it feel more like a little portable experiment than a normal laptop, which is exactly why I like it. This particular one is also a special edition model, which makes it even more interesting. Instead of the usual plain finish, it has the distinctive white floral-patterned lid, giving it a very different look from the typical black and silver laptops from the same era.

    It also surprised me in another way: the battery still works.

    That already makes it more practical than the larger laptops, especially for something I can actually carry around and use away from the desk. Performance is obviously limited by the Atom platform, but that is also what makes it interesting.

    I have already started experimenting with antiX Linux on it, and the goal is to see how usable such a low-powered machine can still be today with lightweight software. I want to try things like lightweight web browsing, IRC, terminal-based tools, music playback, writing, simple file transfers, and other low-resource Linux applications.

    The HP Mini will probably become my dedicated ultra-lightweight Linux experiment.

    It is definitely not the fastest machine in the group, but because of its size, working battery, special-edition design, and limitations, it may end up producing some of the most interesting Lab Notes from the entire haul.

    07 // WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

    What started as a search for one cheap laptop turned into four different machines, each with its own role.

    The ThinkPad SL510 will probably become a regular appearance on OpenBootLab. It is the machine I can see myself using most often for writing, Linux, browsing, and general testing. The Dell Inspiron 1545 will mainly be used for experimenting with different lightweight Linux distributions on real hardware. The Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pro V3545 is staying on Windows XP and will become my retro gaming and older software machine. And the tiny HP Mini 110 will continue as my low-power Linux experiment.

    For €90, I am more than happy with how this turned out.

    This post was only the introduction to the haul. I also plan to make a separate post for each laptop, where I can go into much more detail about the hardware, specifications, condition, upgrades, operating systems, performance, and what I eventually decide to use each machine for.

    None of these laptops are perfect. They are scratched, worn, old, and limited in different ways, but that is exactly what makes them interesting. They are not going onto a shelf. They are going back to work.

    And this definitely will not be the last time you see them on OpenBootLab.

    // END OF LAB NOTE

  • Xiaomi Redmi 15C 5G – Unboxing & First Impressions

    Xiaomi Redmi 15C 5G – Unboxing & First Impressions

    REVIEW 003 // BUDGET PHONE // ANDROID // XIAOMI // 5G

    SEPTEMBER 2026

    The Redmi 15C 5G is an affordable Android phone with a large display, 5G connectivity and a massive battery. I picked one up not only to see what Xiaomi offers at the budget end in 2026, but also with a future OpenBootLab project in mind.

    Before the experiments begin, let’s unbox it and take a first look.

    01 // WHY THE REDMI 15C 5G?

    The interesting part here is that this wasn’t originally supposed to be a normal smartphone purchase.

    After experimenting with running Linux on my Redmi A3, I decided that I wanted to take the idea further and build a phone-powered cyberdeck. The A3 proved that the basic concept worked, but for the final project I wanted something newer and more capable.

    The Redmi 15C 5G looked like an interesting candidate: it’s still a relatively inexpensive Android phone, but gives me a more modern platform to experiment with.

    And before I start doing strange things to it, I thought it deserved a proper unboxing.

    02 // UNBOXING

    The unboxing experience is pretty straightforward. For the European market, there is no power adapter included in the box. You do get a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, documentation and the usual SIM eject tool.

    One nice addition is the included clear TPU case. It feels surprisingly good quality for a case bundled with a budget phone and fits the device well. It’s nothing fancy, but it means the phone is protected straight out of the box without needing to buy a case separately.

    In the video below, you can see the full unboxing, first boot and a quick look around Xiaomi HyperOS.

    03 // BUILD & DESIGN

    The Redmi 15C 5G is a large phone, and you notice that immediately when you pick it up. Despite its budget price, though, it doesn’t feel particularly cheap in the hand. The plastic construction feels solid, and the overall design is clean and modern.

    The camera module on the back gives the phone a slightly more premium appearance than I expected at this price point. Xiaomi has kept the rest of the design fairly simple, which I actually like.

    Another welcome feature is the 3.5 mm headphone jack. It’s becoming increasingly uncommon on modern smartphones, so it’s nice to see Xiaomi keeping it on an affordable device like this. You can simply plug in a pair of wired headphones without needing an adapter or USB-C headphones.

    Of course, the size won’t be for everyone. This is definitely not a compact smartphone, but the large body also makes sense considering the big display and battery inside.

    Overall, my first impression of the build quality is positive. It still feels like a budget device, but not an unnecessarily cheap one.

    04 // DISPLAY & HYPEROS

    The Redmi 15C 5G comes with a large 6.9-inch display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The size is immediately noticeable, and for browsing, watching videos or simply navigating around Android, there’s plenty of screen space to work with. The bezels are still quite large, especially compared to more expensive modern smartphones, and there’s a noticeable chin at the bottom. At this price point, though, that’s difficult to complain about too much — some compromises have to be made to keep the price down.

    The display itself isn’t anything particularly premium, but for normal everyday use my first impression is that it does the job well. The higher refresh rate also helps make navigating through the interface feel smoother.

    The phone runs Xiaomi HyperOS, which felt responsive enough during my initial setup and short time navigating through the menus.

    One thing I wasn’t particularly impressed by was the amount of pre-installed software. There are already quite a few additional apps and games on the phone out of the box. Even during the initial setup, you’re presented with an option to install more supposedly “essential” apps, many of which are basically games.

    Most of this can be removed or simply skipped during setup, but it does make the initial experience feel unnecessarily cluttered. It’s something I’ve come to expect to some degree from inexpensive Android phones, but I’d still prefer a much cleaner installation from the start.

    I’ll need considerably more time with HyperOS on this hardware before making any conclusions about performance. And considering what I actually bought the Redmi 15C 5G for, stock Android usage is only the beginning.

    05 // HARDWARE & PERFORMANCE

    Inside, the Redmi 15C 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300, which also brings 5G connectivity to the device. My version comes with 128 GB of storage, with the box advertising up to 8 GB of RAM using memory extension.

    So far, performance feels perfectly adequate for what this phone is supposed to be. Navigating through HyperOS, opening apps and going through the initial setup hasn’t shown any major issues, although this is obviously far from a proper performance test.

    One of the bigger highlights is the 6000 mAh battery, paired with support for 33 W fast charging. For an inexpensive phone, having such a large battery is definitely appealing, although I’ll need to actually use the phone for a while before commenting on real-world battery life.

    You also get 5G and NFC, which makes the 15C considerably more interesting as an inexpensive everyday device — and also gives me a better platform for the experiments I have planned.

    I’m not going to run benchmarks or make any serious performance claims yet. This is only a first look, and there will be plenty of opportunities to push the hardware harder later.

    06 // CAMERA

    The Redmi 15C 5G features a 50 MP main camera, but I haven’t spent enough time with it yet to give it a proper evaluation.

    During my first look, I only briefly opened the camera and explored the interface. I haven’t taken enough photos in different conditions to make any meaningful conclusions about image quality.

    For now, I’ll leave the camera testing for a future post after I’ve actually spent some time using the phone.

    07 // FIRST IMPRESSIONS & WHAT’S NEXT

    My first impressions of the Redmi 15C 5G are mostly positive. It’s obviously a budget phone and there are compromises, such as the large display bezels and the amount of pre-installed software, but the phone itself feels solid, HyperOS runs smoothly enough so far, and features such as 5G, NFC, a 6000 mAh battery and the 3.5 mm headphone jack make it an interesting package for the price.

    But simply using it as a normal Android phone isn’t really why I bought it.

    The Redmi 15C 5G will become part of several upcoming OpenBootLab experiments. First, I want to pair it with the Rii Bluetooth mini keyboard I’ve recently picked up and see how practical the combination actually is.

    After that, things get more interesting. I’ll be experimenting with running Linux on the Redmi 15C 5G, building on what I previously tried with the Redmi A3.

    Eventually, the phone is planned to become the heart of my Android Cyberdeck project, where the goal is to turn an inexpensive smartphone into something closer to a tiny portable computer.

    So this isn’t really the conclusion for the Redmi 15C 5G.

    It’s just the first boot.

    // END OF REVIEW 002

  • SBOX K-14 Unboxing: Is This €6 Keyboard Any Good?

    SBOX K-14 Unboxing: Is This €6 Keyboard Any Good?

    REVIEW 002 // SBOX K-14 // BUDGET KEYBOARD

    September 2026

    Can a €6 Keyboard Be Any Good? SBOX K-14 Unboxing and First Impressions.

    01 // INTRODUCTION

    The SBOX K-14 is one of the cheapest new keyboards I could find. I purchased it from TechTrade for only €6.71, which made me curious about what such a low-cost keyboard could actually offer.

    I wanted to find out whether it could be used for gaming, writing OpenBootLab posts and basic everyday tasks, or whether its extremely low price would make it frustrating to use.

    My immediate reaction after removing it from the box was simple: this keyboard is unbelievably light. The plastic feels very cheap, and the entire body flexes significantly with little pressure. That was not completely unexpected for €6.70, but the amount of flex still surprised me.

    Build quality is only one part of the experience, however. The real question is whether the SBOX K-14 can still function as a usable keyboard despite feeling so inexpensive.

    Watch the complete SBOX K-14 unboxing below:

    02 // SPECIFICATIONS

    The SBOX K-14 is a basic full-size wired keyboard designed for everyday computer use. According to the specifications listed by TechTrade, it offers:

    • 105-key full-size layout
    • Slovenian/Croatian key layout
    • Membrane switches
    • Rated lifetime of three million presses per key
    • USB 2.0 connection
    • 1.35-metre fixed cable
    • 5 V / 100 mA USB power
    • Dimensions of 445 × 156 × 22 mm
    • Weight of approximately 530 g
    • Official compatibility with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10
    • 12-month warranty

    The official compatibility list appears dated and does not mention Windows 11 or Linux. However, as a standard USB keyboard, it should work as a plug-and-play input device on most modern operating systems. I tested it on Arch Linux and will cover the results later in the post.

    There is no backlighting, wireless connectivity, software suite or gaming-focused feature set. This is a conventional membrane keyboard focused on providing the most basic functionality at the lowest possible price.

    03 // DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY

    he SBOX K-14 has a traditional full-size layout with a function-key row, navigation keys, arrow keys and a numeric keypad. One positive aspect is its relatively compact outer frame. There is very little unnecessary plastic surrounding the keys, so it does not occupy more desk space than a full-size keyboard actually needs.

    Its construction immediately reveals where the low price comes from. The plastic feels very cheap, the keyboard is extremely light, and the chassis flexes significantly with little pressure. It does not feel particularly sturdy, although that is not entirely surprising for a keyboard costing only €6.70.

    There are fold-out legs underneath, allowing the keyboard to be raised to a more comfortable typing angle. However, it has no rubber feet to grip the desk. Combined with its low weight, this means the keyboard slides around with very little force. The underside also includes several drainage holes. These should allow small amounts of spilled liquid to pass through the keyboard instead of remaining trapped inside, although I did not deliberately test this feature.

    The permanently attached 1.35-metre USB cable also feels thin and inexpensive. It should be long enough for a typical desktop setup, but its durability will only become clear after longer use.

    Overall, the K-14 offers a sensible and space-efficient full-size form factor, but its materials, flex and lack of grip make it obvious that keeping the price as low as possible was the main priority.

    04 // TYPING FEEL AND SOUND

    The SBOX K-14 uses membrane switches, and the keys feel very mushy when pressed. Despite that, they are reasonably responsive for normal typing, and the keyboard is more comfortable to use than its extremely cheap construction initially suggested.

    The plastic does not feel pleasant beneath the fingers and constantly reminds you that this is a €6.70 keyboard. The larger keys, including Space and Enter, feel and sound fairly average. They are not particularly good, but they also do not stand out as a major problem.

    I made a few typing mistakes while testing it, although the number of missed or incorrect presses was not bad enough to make the keyboard frustrating. With more time, I would probably become more accustomed to its feel.

    One of its strongest qualities is how quiet it is. The K-14 produces very little noise during normal typing, which could make it suitable for a shared room, a quiet office or late-night use.

    If this were the only keyboard I had, I could comfortably use it to write multiple OpenBootLab posts and complete everyday tasks. However, if I had more money available, I would choose something with better materials and a more precise typing feel.

    The video below demonstrates how the SBOX K-14 sounds during normal typing and when pressing several individual keys. No background music was added, allowing the keyboard itself to be heard clearly.

    05 // CONNECTION AND COMPATIBILITY

    I tested the SBOX K-14 with my main desktop running Arch Linux and with my laptop running Windows 11 Pro.

    The keyboard was recognised immediately on both systems. I only had to connect the USB cable, and it was ready to use within seconds. No drivers, additional software or manual configuration were required—which is exactly what I expected from a standard wired USB keyboard.

    All the keys I tested worked correctly, including the Slovenian and Croatian characters Č, Š, Ž and Đ. The numeric keypad and the rest of the full-size layout also worked without any problems.

    Although the product information only officially lists older Windows versions, the K-14 worked normally with Windows 11 Pro and Arch Linux during my testing. Its simple plug-and-play compatibility is one of the areas where this inexpensive keyboard delivers exactly what it should.

    06 // GAMING TEST

    I mainly play single-player games rather than competitive multiplayer titles, and for that kind of gaming, the SBOX K-14 is good enough.

    Basic movement and normal controls work without any major problems. However, when moving and pressing several keys very quickly, the keyboard can occasionally fail to register an input. This is unlikely to be a serious issue in slower single-player games, but it could become frustrating in fast or competitive titles where every keypress matters.

    The lack of rubber feet is also more noticeable while gaming. Because the keyboard is extremely light, it can slide across the desk during more intense moments.

    This is clearly not a gaming keyboard, and anyone who needs reliable multi-key input should look for something better. However, if the SBOX K-14 is the only new keyboard you can afford, it is still sufficient for casual gaming and everyday computer use.

    I am also writing this post on the K-14, which proves that it is usable beyond a short test. And if a particularly frustrating game ever causes it to meet an unfortunate end, at least replacing a €6.70 keyboard will not be too painful.

    07 // FINAL VERDICT

    So, can a €6.70 keyboard actually be any good? The answer depends entirely on what you expect from it.

    The SBOX K-14 feels extremely cheap. Its plastic is unpleasant, the chassis flexes considerably, the cable is thin, and the lack of rubber feet allows it to slide around the desk. The keys are also very mushy, and fast combinations are not always registered correctly.

    Despite those weaknesses, the keyboard is still functional. It is comfortable enough for writing, extremely quiet, compatible with both Arch Linux and Windows 11 Pro, and usable for basic tasks and casual single-player gaming. I even wrote this post using it.

    I would not choose the K-14 if I had enough money for a better keyboard. However, for someone who needs the cheapest possible new keyboard, a temporary replacement, or a spare for troubleshooting computers, it does the job.

    For €6.70, I cannot call it impressive—but I also cannot call it useless. It is exactly what it promises to be: an extremely cheap keyboard that works.

    Would you use a keyboard this inexpensive as your main keyboard, or would you keep it only as a spare?

    // END OF REVIEW 002