Pipo X7s, "TV box" running Win 8.1 is on the way

[Feanor]

My Pipo X7s has arrived and is working well. I'm using mostly to play videos and interface with Netflix.

The X7s version of the Pipo dual boots Win 8.1 and Android; so far I have used only the Win 8.1 which is the major reason I bough the X7 versus the more numerous Android "TV boxes" that are available. The X7s has 2 GB RAM and 64 GB of static memory which ought to be enough for my purposes. I paid US$150 including shipping from China.

I connected my Pipo to my Onkyo AVR via HDMI, and to my network via hardwire RJ45, unfortunately only 100 Mbps but that has proven fast enough. For control, I'm using a Logitech wireless keyboard with touchpad, which is working fine.

The programs I have loaded are:

• Drivers for the Logitech
• Classic Shell freeware program to provide a 'Start' button, 'cause I have no use for the 'Metro' interface
• VLC freeware media player, and
• Irfanview freeware photo viewer.

I don't expect to load very much more, and I don't expect to add an antivirus program since I won't be doing random Internet browsing or downloading.

I problem I had was that default Windows theme was difficult to read on my Panasonic plasma TV, even with 'Large' text and icon. However I was able to fix this completely by switching to a 'High contrast' theme which displays, (e.g.) white text on black instead of vice versa.

A fair number of Pipo X7 users have complained of overheating of their machines; so far I have encountered no problems myself. By the sound of it, most of the complainers were running intensive benchmark tests and/or games. I don't expect to be doing these things, nevertheless I ordered a sheet o 5mm heat disbursing foam to effect the simplest overheating protection which is to put the foam between the bottom of the circuit board and the aluminum bottom sheet of the device. The foam hasn't arrived yet but things are working so far w/o apparent overheating.