Dell’s sub-$100 Project Ophelia USB-sized PC ships this summer

By Gloria Sin May 21, 2013

Project_Ophelia_Dell

After making appearances at both CES and Mobile World Congress earlier this year, Dell’s ambitious mini-PC Project Ophelia will finally be ready for consumers later this summer.

Project Ophelia is a computer, about the size of a USB drive, that can plug into anything with a HDMI socket – a high-definition television, monitor, or projector – to turn it into a full-fledged computer. But don’t let its diminutive size fool you: it’s got as much computing power as a smartphone. After all, it’s powered by a 1.6GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor, has 8GB of internal storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot so you can easily sideload or transfer content.

Related Videos

Since this mini-PC runs Android Jelly Bean (build 4.1.2), you can access all the apps you’re used to through the Google Play store. Want to watch a movie in your hotel room but don’t have your laptop or tablet? Just plug Ophelia into the HDTV in your room, download the Netflix app, and start streaming The Avengers. Need to edit a Powerpoint presentation to send to a colleague while on vacation? All you have to do is plug Ophelia into a screen with an HDMI input, then hop onto the wireless network to access your files stored on Google Drive or Wyse’s PocketCloud.

Although this sub-$100 USB-sized PC doesn’t come with a dedicated input device, you can pair it with any third-party Bluetooth keyboard and mouse thanks to its built-in Bluetooth. Dell is aware that it needs to offer users a decent navigation experience if it wants to market Project Ophelia as a viable PC alternative. That’s why the company is already working on a “keyboard-like technology for users to type when Ophelia is docked to a screen,” as Dell’s Jeff McNaught told PCWorld.

Android developers who are interested in making apps for Ophelia will be getting their hands on the mini-computer in July, while cable and telecom companies who may bundle the device with their service will get Ophelia in August. Consumers who are eager to get this Android-based mini-PC should be able to order Project Ophelia direct from Dell’s website later this summer.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Computing

One of Dell’s best laptops just got a $250 discount

The Dell XPS 13 Plus on a table outside.

The XPS 13 is a tentpole computer in Dell's arsenal. It's a great option for both professionals and casual users. Dell laptop deals help cut the price down to that casual user level, and there are some fantastic deals going on right now. Take this limited-time deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop, for example. It saves you $150, dropping the sale price to $1,249 on a well-equipped laptop for browsing, work, productivity apps, streaming, and more. But if you enter the code SAVE100 at checkout, you'll get an additional $100 off, slashing the price to $1,149.

Why You Should Buy the Dell XPS 13 Plus
Dell's XPS 13 Laptop is gorgeous, thanks to its 13.4-inch full-HD InfinityEdge touchscreen display and super slim chassis. But the real star of the show is the hardware hidden inside. It's powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P processor, with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

Computing

Windows 10 Home vs. Pro vs. S mode: What’s the difference?

dell xps 15 2 in 1 review version 1522861390 front display

Windows 10 still holds its own, despite Windows 11 being worth the upgrade. It has many of the same features as its younger sibling, and with some applications, it still performs better. But if you plan to install Windows 10 on a new computer, you'll need to pick from one of the many options of Windows 10 to install.

Should you install Windows 10 Home? Windows 10 Pro? What about S Mode? In this guide to Windows 10, we'll break down the most popular versions and why one or the other might be best for you.
Windows 10 Home vs. Pro vs. S mode features
It can be challenging to work through all the Windows 10 versions to decide which one is right for your needs. All three mainstream versions are on this list and should give you the best choices for general computing or school.

Computing

Save $1,050 on this Alienware gaming PC with 32GB of RAM, RTX 4080

alienware aurora r15 review 20

Gamers who want a powerful gaming PC should be prepared to spend a significant sum of money, but fortunately, there are gaming PC deals that will let you enjoy some savings along the way. Here's a good example -- the Alienware Aurora R15, which is on sale from Dell at $700 off its sticker price of $3,700, can get even cheaper by entering the code SAVE350 at checkout for an additional $350 discount, for total savings of $1,050 and a final price of $2,650. Time is running out on this offer though, so you'll want to finalize the purchase right now.

Why you should buy the Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop
The Alienware Aurora R15, which is on our list of the best gaming PCs, stands out among other gaming desktops because of its futuristic design. However, it's not one of those devices that are all style and no substance. Inside its spacious chassis are the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, plus 32GB of RAM that's recommended by our guide on how to buy a gaming desktop if you're planning to use it for both playing video games and running demanding apps such as video editing applications. Buying games without having to check their recommended specifications because you're sure that your PC can run them without any trouble is one of the best feelings in gaming.