Ollee/Protempo Ltd L14FTCPW 14.1"
This laptop is among the worst laptops available on the market - wait, no, it's the single most worst laptop available on the market. But short on a money, it's great Linux Laptop.
This is that rare gem, for $199 - it's just good enough for a basic laptop for any linux user or enthusiast.
Okay, So I purchased this laptop from PC Traders Ltd for $199 - for a basic laptop, this is literally as basic as you can get. Shipped with Windows 10, having 32GB storage is a complete joke; especially when you find out that if you lose the the drivers, the laptop is effectively junk - due to the integrated wireless module on the PCB that I'm going to losely refer to as the motherboard, contains a Broadcom B43455 Wireless AC & Bluetooth module. The drivers of which are ... completely unavailable for the Windows market.
When I mean unavailable, I mean unavailable - there is no support website for this laptop, there's no product page for this laptop, there's not even a windows driver for the wireless module on Broadcom's website for this module itself.
The only way to make this laptop functional again is to run it as a Linux laptop, but when you consider that it's running an Intel Atom Quad Core processor, 4G RAM, 32G storage, one bonus is that it has a 1080p panel, allowing for some moderately serious usage with a chosen Linux distro - this laptop does shine.
Specifications
- Processor Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (4C4T, 2M Cache, up to 1.92G, CherryTrail)
- Memory 4GB DDR3 Onboard Soldered (No DIMM Slots)
- Storage 32GB EMMC Onboard
- Wireless Broadcom BCM43455 WiFi 802.11ac + BT V4.0
- Connectivity USB 2.0 & USB 3.0, Mini-HDMI.
- Display1920x1080 "Full HD" TN Panel
BIOS / UEFI
The UEFI setup on this has a traditional AMIBIOS design, blue & grey, but its incredibly limited in its function.
It only allows changing the date/time, Setup Prompt time, NumLock state, Quiet & Fast Boot, Boot Selection and Override, including the required save changes options.
There are no options regarding Secure Boot, enabling or disabling Legacy Support or anything of the like.
Wireless
In order to get Linux (any distro) to work nicely with the B43455 module, you'll need to install the drivers for the card.
Download this github package, extract the bcrm folder, copy the content to
/usr/lib/firmware/bcrm
and the wireless card should operate fully when you reboot.
Pros & Cons
- Full HD Display Panel is included, for the price - it could have easily come with a lower res display.
- Massive Battery, with close to 8hrs battery life - this thing is going to last all day!
- Plastic casing & construction makes this laptop quite durable, I probably wouldn't recommend dropping it off a desk, but it would survive a rough life with children, teenagers or a spare PC floating around the house.
- Linux naturally, take your pick. Pop!_OS, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Debian, Elementary OS, Fedora, antiX, OpenSUSE, Linux Lite, Q4OS, NixOS, GhostBSD.
- Affordable, for $200-300 - you get what you pay for, but when it comes using this on Linux, it's a complete bargain.
- 32G Storage, is pathetic. Renders the laptop effectively useless when it comes to Windows. Whoever decided on 32G should be shot!
- No Driver Payload is located on the hard drive. After inspecting another similar laptop, I saw no driver folder located on the drive, to be used if the laptop was needed to be reinstalled.
- Windows 10 is probably the worst Operating System that could be pre-loaded on this laptop.
Where to Buy
This laptop was purchased independently with my own funds. This is not a sponsored article.