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Problems with Windows 10 Bluetooth drivers


Clunkclick

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I have been having problems trying to get an Easy Acc stand-alone Bluetooth speaker working (Consistently) with a cheapo Windows 10 tablet (Linx 1010b - Intel Baytrail processor). The worst of these problems has been apparently random blue screen events (Invariably an unhandled exception event  related to  the Microsoft Bluetooth .sys file) occurring even when a Bluetooth device is not in use.

 

I noted that all the resident bluetooth drivers provided with this Linx provided disk image copy of Windows 10 were dated 2006 !!! - The esy Acc is apparently "True" PNP and installs without drivers.

 

Other problems I experienced were "Digital salad" gargling sound when connected to the Easy Acc - resolved by switching the default Bluetooth driver (In Control panel, Sound) from Easy Acc "Earplugs" to " Headphones" and loss of Easy Accs Bluetooth settings when the computer went to sleep - resolved by unclicking the "Allow computer to switch off this device" (In Control panel, sound) and then re-starting the Easy ACC and tablet. 

 

Even after doing this the bluescreen crashes persisted.

 

So the first thing I did, was to see if the Microsoft Bluetooth drivers needed updating. They all reported that "The most up-to-date driver is already installed." Whereupon, I resorted to the web for further information and found this:-

 

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=Bluetooth

 

I thought this might be relevant as the processor was Intel.

 

So downloaded the 32 bit version of Proset blue tooth drivers for Windows 10 (Although the tablet has a 64 bit processor, the UEFI is 32 bit, so it can only run a 32 bit OS). Installed and ran the package, without problem,  and hey presto,  although these drivers are mainly aimed at networks and are for use by system administrators, the blue screen events stopped and the Bluetooth transmissions, tablet to Easy Acc, were flawless, from then on.

 

But when I looked on Windows 10 Device manager, there was no trace of any Bluetooth driver dated 2016. Euh ?

 

All was fine and dandy with bluetooth audio transmissions and reception on  streaming radio.

 

Then I did the usual "Big think", and called into question the currency of other drivers that came with the ISO disc image provided by Linx,   and decided to install an updated wi-fi driver (Realtek) via the "Update driver option" in Device manager. This, of course,  proved a step too far,as far as system resilience was concerned and whilst the driver installation completed Ok, using a Bluetooth streaming source just caused a blue screen.

 

Therefore, before rolling-back the wi-fi driver, in an attempt to restore flawless Bluetooth operation, I thought it might be an idea to check on here.

 

Any body aware of a potential Bluetooth/wif-fi driver conflict with Windows 10 ? And, if it exists,  how it can be resolved ?

 

Cheers,

 

 

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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Sadly, Win10 has multiple issues; try the device on a non Win10 system to see how well it works before going back to the Linx tablet; it might be Win10, or it might be an issue with the Linx hardware.

 

Although you managed to get it working, Win10 will over-ride any and all 3rd party drivers and install the M$ ones as soon as you turn your back to it, even when they dont work - ask Toshiba laptop owners!!

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Blue screen events seem to occur only when using the VLC player on web radio streams using the pls file type.

 

Postscript

 

Blimey, there must be a QRA Flying squad at Redmond or somewhere on the web who is well disposed to streaming numpties like me.

 

Got an international (Undeclared number)  telephone call (Goes straight to answerphone for cold-calling protection), then about three minutes later I get an update download appear on the tablet. So, restarted the system and lo and behold all the radio streaming formats now play flawlessly, but only on Microsoft Edge (Previously Edge wouldn't look at some of the older file (Encapsulation) types and I had to use Windows Media Player and VLC.

 

Is this MS/Linx using some sort of remote/trusted installer privilege or has somebody hacked my system ?

 

That's not the first time that's happened

 

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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It's never overridden any driver installation that I've done.

 

I just don't like BT overly for sound, I prefer proper cables for listening to audio, much better quality. I only use BT now for file transfers, I have BlueSoleil 10 installed and it makes connecting headphones & phone quite easy, but that's it.

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As is increasingly common with Windows, the issue appears to have been advanced to some sort of resolution (Only time will tell if this is permanent) and yet one has no idea how you got there or whether one's own efforts played any part in the resolution - if that were marriage it would rank as mental cruelty !

 

Can't make my mind up whether this warrants an Immediate class action  or the issuing of profuse thanks to the masked personage of the web !

 

 

Nick

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TheWanderer, on 28 Aug 2016 - 21:10, said:TheWanderer, on 28 Aug 2016 - 21:10, said:

It's never overridden any driver installation that I've done.

 

I just don't like BT overly for sound, I prefer proper cables for listening to audio, much better quality. I only use BT now for file transfers, I have BlueSoleil 10 installed and it makes connecting headphones & phone quite easy, but that's it.

Compared to my ancient wired audio set-up (Bits of which date from the 1980s) and bearing in mind, at my age, I've probably lost a fair bit of high frequency hearing capability, when it works,  bluetoothing the 128k digital streams sounds good and the 320K streams + virtualisation sound fanastic. The secret is keeping the Bluetooth speaker within 4 feet of the tablet and out of range of the wi-fi hub. 

 

Most of the time I'm listening to radio sources allied to my age group i.e. BBC, Classic FM, so they don't appear to be always in the van as regards the audio encoding/formatting.

 

I'm amazed how well it works (When it does) given the proliferation of other people's strong wi-fi and Bluetooth phone signal's in my location (Terraced back-to-back housing).

 

I'll have a look at Blue Soleil, in slower time - deferred toilet and  domestic duties are calling !

 

 

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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Slightly off-topic, as is my woant, I noticed today that cricket broadcasts streaming on the web were running 30 to 45 seconds behind the terrestrial wireless DAB radio transmission that I was listening on BBC Radio 5 live extra.

 

I wonder what causes that magnitude of delay ?

 

 

Nick

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win10 is like a never ending beta.

 

If it works for you it's great.

If you have any problems you're pretty much ****ed. MS does not give two hoots about problems.

 

Some of the stuff it's doing as a company right now beggars belief.

 

It's like the customers are a girlfriend it doesn't like anymore but it won't dump. It's just doing everything it can to **** them off so they'll leave.

 

It's working like a charm for me. I've dumped windows phone for an iPhone and I'll not be in a hurry to build another windows PC.

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I've used Blue Soleil in the past, and it worked well, but as the included sw has worked so well with every BT device I have bought in the last 6-7 years I havent bothered updating/installing it on my newer PCs.

 

As I understand it, MS have changed the video encapsulation by default, and on-the-fly, so your video player expects one thing and gets something totally different - so falls over. It could be that your VLC install updated to a new version to allow for the new encapsulation.

 

This has broken a lot of webcams as well.

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WEb cam issue

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/08/19/windows_10_anniversary_update_webcams/

 

MS decided to fundamentally change how Windows deals with streaming from web cams but neglected to tell anyone that actually makes web cams. Oddly enough lots broke.

 

Many web cam makers and people that make services reliant on web cams are decidedly unchuffed.

 

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsdesktop/en-US/9d6a8704-764f-46df-a41c-8e9d84f7f0f3/mjpg-encoded-media-type-is-not-available-for-usbuvc-webcameras-after-windows-10-version-1607-os?forum=mediafoundationdevelopment#fc5c100a-c661-43cd-9540-bb4591e3d1fe

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The Steve Balmer generation did for Microsoft - great fat kitten, prancing on stage like a fanny and then disappearing with $15 billion in his back pocket.

 

AKA, same "Business" (Legalised robbery) ethics of the fat kittening clothing magnate with a plastic boat. Nuf said.

 

Needless to say I was  bit premature, in thinking that the blue screen events had gone away. Had another one on the tablet as I was writing this post - managed to narrow it down to an "System thread unhandled exception event" associated with the Bluetooth system file BthA2DP.sys.

 

I think this sys file is one of the original 2006 blue tooth files ! There is a load of guf on it on the web dating back years - and its still unresolved. Sounds like Volkswagen. All the advances there have been in Bluetooth since 2006 and they haven't been fagged to produce a new driver set 10 years on - yep, definitely sounds like VAG.

 

After doing a bit of web researching, I'm a bit weary of using Blue Soleil, a commercial product,  because some authors are reporting that its use blocks, on a once-and-for-all basis, downloading and use of Microsoft's own Blue Tooth drivers. May consider using it long-term if Microsoft doing nothing to resolve the Blue Tooth issues.

 

If these companies keep on going on like this, the broken down monoliths of the old Soviet Regime will recover their attraction.

 

Pro temp, best to turn-off blue tooth and use the Easy Acc on the supplied back-up  wired connection.

 

There is the possibility that the blue-screening is coming from another source -

 

unstable system set-up (Care of the Chinese UEFI code ?),

 

dodgy Easy Acc hardware or someone else's viral content in it  (I did get it at a considerably reduced price from the SAC)

 

 or malicious intrusion to the tablet - there's been a sudden increase recently in these incoming  International calls (No number on the caller ID), who never leave a message on the answerphone and they always seem to be just before (Sometimes after) a blue screen event - you know the ones from downtown Mumbai or Lagos - "Our system tells us you have a problem with your system . . . . .(Because we put it there)".

 

Who said "I'm sure they get the same problem at NORAD ?" Not.

 

I did run sfc/scannow from the tablet command line, but it reported that all system files were valid - not that that means much, other than the files are probably the same size as the genuine originals. So there could still be dodgy code implanted.

 

I tested the Easy Acc hard ware on the Windows 8.1 desktop (Which uses a class 1 BT dongle) and it wouldn't even detect it !

 

Next job to see if either of the other Windows 10 devices  I have will.

 

Could someone explain to me how this is a good consumer electronics experience ?

 

By-the-way, its currently being reported on MSN News that Microsoft is on a quest to eradicate all the negative comment about itself and the internet - A Holy Grail too far ? Perhaps this ******ised advice of the late Sir John,  is the best action that came be taken "Come friendly bombs and fall on ... Redmond.. . . it isn't fit for dongles now". NORAD at the ready.

 

 

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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Could someone explain to me how this is a good consumer electronics experience ?

 

Nick

 

You assume that is the aim?

Extraction of money and data first, user experience 2nd 10th

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You assume that is the aim?

Extraction of money and data first, user experience 2nd 10th

Nah, I know. Inspirational, that's what I call it, amongst other things.

Those words drummed into UK public servants from the 1980s onwards . . . "The private sector can do it so much better " starting to sound a bit hollow, unless you are talking about fraud, robbery, incompetence . . .,

Nick

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Tried the Easy Acc with an HP Pavillion I5 running W10.

From a practical operator standpoint no problems at all pairing, connecting and streaming audio or video+audio using the Pavillions on board Blue Tooth.

However looking at the system event logs, it appears that when I disconnected the Easy Acc from the Pavillion (Using the software options in "Settings"), the software process in the Pavillion didn't close down correctly producing the event report:-

Removal of the device node BTHHFEUM/BthhFPHID/32737aecfeoe104 failed with error code 0x800F020B. This error occurred repetedly of the 15 errors that occurred with the last hour this was 8 of them.

So it looks like there may be something wrong with the Easy Acc, most likely the self-loading driver BthA2DP.sys

Further, it appears that the BthA2DP.sys file isn't part of the Microsoft Bluetooth driver set but that of a third party and that it only loads (From the Easy Acc ?) when a connection is made with this device - so not strictly PnP ?

Looking at the Linx tablets event log there appeared to be 3 errors occurring the most within the last 24 hours:-

- "The Server (D63B10C5-BB46-A94F-E40B9D520160) did not register with DCOM within the required timeout" - 29 times in the last 24 hours.

- "WLAN Extensibility module has failed to start. Module with C:\Windows\System32\Rtlitus.dll. Error Code 126" - 12 times in the last 24 hours.

- "Activation of application of Microsoft Windows Cortana - cw5nlh2txyewy!Cortana u1 failed with error. Access denied" - 97 errors in the last 24 hours.

So, obviously a bit of research required as to what this all means, but, first take to me, is that there may be a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth conflict.

And lastly, the Windows 8.1 Desktop whilst resting in sleep mode was suddenly brought to life, but not by me. And, as far as I can recall, I have not set wake-on-lan, wake-on-magicpacket to "Yes". Next thing that happened was a telephone call (As before) from an undeclared international number. That looks like I may have khaki camouflaged coder infiltration as well.

So Metropolitan Police site will get visited later.

Joy.

Edited by Clunkclick
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This series of posts (Last post  on the thread, in particular) on the Linx website forum seems to offer an explanation of what may be happening:-

 

http://www.linxtablet.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=1304

 

So, in summary, it says thatr there's a conflict on modern tablets which share an antenna between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A conflict which is known about and which has yet to be addressed by hardware manufacturers or software publishers, including Microsoft.

 

The only work around is to use the tablet with one or other of the radio services turned off.

 

As my tablet is still BSODing, even when Bluetooth isn't connected (But only paired) I've turned the Bluetooth off. We'll see what happens.

 

One thing I can say is that it doesn't happen with the HP Pavillion laptop - interesting to know whether that has a shared antenna system.

 

If it is true, this has got to be an IT ****-up to beat all (Unless you know different !).

 

That would explain why my tablet was supplied, out-of-the-box,  with the Bluetooth switch in "Settings" in the off position and why the Bluetooth component services in Control Panel always switched blue tooth off when the system was cold boot restarted - the component services had been set to "Manual" rather than "Automatic".

 

I presume that Linx did this, as I have already had to use a Linx supplied USB stick with an ISO  Disk Image of W10 on it to renew the system the last time it lost access to the SSD.

 

Its definitely all about the money - pop-up adverts aimed at future HP customers occur in this text where I've used  the phrase HP Pavillion and yet they known shortcomings in tablet design which render dual wireless services unusuable, continue to make and sell the devices and done nothing to remedy it. And we are paying good foreign currency for this crap and Trading Standards are so far behind the curve its untrue.

 

 

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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W10 is 10.0.10240 Build 10240 (As supplied on the Linx supplied USB stick ISO) - clearly, that needs updating. Why hasn't automatic updates done that ?

All the Bluetooth drivers (BT Radio, BT Enumerator, BT Easy Acc) are listed as 10.0.10240.16515, dated 21/06/2006,

except the BT LE Enumerator, which is listed as 10.0.10240.16766.

Going back to my previous theme regarding the reported conflict between the Realtek Wi-Fi and Bt radio systems, other posts on the Linx forum site state that this problem is not confined to the linx but includes most cheap tablets and some laptops e.g. Dell, which use the Realtek RTL8723BS Wireless NIC chip.

Downloading updated wireless NIC drivers from the Realtek site had apparently cured earlier wireless problems experienced on Linx W10 tablets. Although W10 Device manager says the Realtek driver I have (3008.17.817.2015) is the most up-to-date, I decided to check on Realtek's own sites, but none of the main Realtek sites (In Taiwan and US) list the RTL8723BS amongst available downloads and the automatic Realtek Driver Download Assist app downloads but consistently stalls during install - this was trying last night and this morning.

Hmmm ? Wonder if there's a bit of a thing going on here between mainland China (Source of the Linx)and Taiwan (Realtek's HQ.

Going back to what I said previously regarding a temporary solution, there was a comment on the Linx forum to the effect that turning the Wi-Fi wireless service back to 802.11 b/g (From its original "N" setting) cured the problem and enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be run at the same time without BSODS.

I did this, and so far it is working ! Whats more, there is a considerable reduction in the amount of time the BT takes to detect, pair and connect with a device. When the Wi-Fi was set to "N" service it was agonisingly slow and stuttered and occasionally halted when attempting to pair, even though the Easy Acc was within 4 feet of the tablet. Ditto the audio transmissions on occasions.

Also, apparently, if you temporarily turn-off Wi-Fi, restart the tablet with Bluetooth loading first and then re-start Wi-Fi, the issue then becomes a slow and interrupted Wi-Fi connection and Bluetooth is fine. Certainly sounds to me if it is a contention issue.

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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WEb cam issue

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/08/19/windows_10_anniversary_update_webcams/

 

MS decided to fundamentally change how Windows deals with streaming from web cams but neglected to tell anyone that actually makes web cams. Oddly enough lots broke.

 

Many web cam makers and people that make services reliant on web cams are decidedly unchuffed.

 

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsdesktop/en-US/9d6a8704-764f-46df-a41c-8e9d84f7f0f3/mjpg-encoded-media-type-is-not-available-for-usbuvc-webcameras-after-windows-10-version-1607-os?forum=mediafoundationdevelopment#fc5c100a-c661-43cd-9540-bb4591e3d1fe

 

I read these, but didnt quote them as "someone" on here has a bee in their bonnet about the website, and slams me if I mention a story from there.

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Yeah. Business as usual with Microsoft. Didn't they do the exact same thing with the previous generation of cams about 10-12 years ago. I suppose that despite the excessive short life of modern consumer products, they're finding that a goodly quantity of the "Old" generation cameras are still operation after 10 years us - I know I still got some old lab gear cams that are still serviceable and are unused only for want of a 'puter running XP. If Microsoft don't take that sort of deliberate across the board product retirement, would individual camera manufacturers have the wherewithal to break ranks and exclusively promote the new range, in a market where new kit is in short supply and costs more and suppliers of old kit can discount like mad. If they didn't do this, the market wouldn't move on.

Back on topic.

I've just done a little test on the tablet.

Step 1: Turned off the Wi-Fi in Device Manager and connected a USB to RJ45 Ethernet device and then ran a Cat 6 cable into a spare port on the back of the Home Hub 5. Plugged the Rj45 to USB device's USB connector into a powered hub and the connected the powered hubs USB output to the one of the tablets USB slots.

Step 2: Connected the tablet to the Easy Acc using the tablets on-board blue tooth.

Step 3: Started streaming web radio to the Easy Acc.

Step 4: (As an extra stress test) Started down loading ordinary web pages for simultaneous viewing - (On previous occasions, when Wi-Fi and BT were running simultaneously, the BT always used to intermitmently drop signal whenever a new web page was requested or a web page closed. Sometimes, it fell-over full stop).

Result: No BSODs, no BT signal loss, no "Digital salad", perfect BT audio.

So, it looks like, as other web reporters have said, that the problem is in the Realtek RTL8723BS hardware/software. I think either it hasn't got enough bandwith or it can't switch quickly enough when running Wi-Fi and BT Simultaneously. I think the fact that turning down the Wi-Fi to 802.11 b/g i.e. reducing the bandwith requirement produces an improvement in the situation leads one to think its a bandwith restriction.

So the options for trouble free usuage are:-

Wait for new driver (Hell may freeze over and it may be the hardware at fault)

Turn-off either BT or Wi-Fi (In the latter case substituting network cable when at home)

Set BT to run at the b/g standard with Wi-Fi - not entirely trouble free (Stress test).

Buy (Or dig about in my bag of tricks) a modern BT USB dongle and turn-off the on-board BT leaving only the Wi-Fi to run on the Realtek chip.

Interesting factoid about cheapo tablets I came across while delving on the web.

The Linx brand and similar are all generic i.e. the same design, not nmecessarily made in the same factory, but could be and are Just badged differently for the importer - that's the "No **** Sherlock" factoid. The striking dumb factoid is that virtually anybody in the UK could set themselves up as an importer and could get them at a price of £40 + £1(Transport) for a batch of 5,000. Guess what the SAC's fire sale price was . . the bloke who stated this also said that the next generation Chinese tablets are now available (That's 4 - core processor, 60 GB SSD, 4 GB RAM) for £75 per unit on a batch of 5,000.

Nick

Edited by Clunkclick
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I had already guessed at that factoid, you just had to look at the identical specs for hundreds of different budget tabs to see something was suss.

 

Badge engineering at its finest.

 

To a certain extent, the same happens with some budget phones, I believe that Vodaphone's current budget offering is a rebadged Chinese phone, and that "British" smart phone everyone was raving about a few months ago was just a bulk purchase from China - specially badged (they will re-do the badge really cheap if you buy enough in one go).

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Buy cheap, buy twice as they say

 

Not always true;

 

My first Lidl Powerfix battery drill lasted longer than any other drill I have owned to date - including corded; I only got rid of it THIS year (bought 2008), because the batteries were starting to go and replacements are no longer available. The thing was indestructible - I dropped it off the roof of the house twice - it didnt even crack the battery house where it landed!!

 

My cheap Xiaomi phone hasnt missed a beat in two years - in the same period my son has returned for repair several Sony and Samsung phones that he and his GF run; in fact nobody else in my immediate family is still using a 2 y/o phone, they have all been replaced for one reason or another - usually because the battery was dying.

 

And it is especially not true when the cheap product is exactly the same as the expensive one - but with the OEM badge and not the expensive, known western brand stamped on it; as is the case with many low end electrical/electronics goods.

 

The best example I can give of this is "White Knight", when they first started selling tumbledryers under that name, they were significantly cheaper than HotPoint, Hoover etc, however THEY were the people making them for HotPoint, Hoover etc; you took a close look and 90% of the dryers on the market at the time were identical - only the badge was different, and perhaps a slightly different button arrangement - they were all made by the people behind White Knight, and in the same factory. They then brand badges slapped on them and were pushed out the factory doors to be sold at a substantial mark-up by the known brands.

 

There is of course one example where this breaks down slightly, cheap 50cc scooters; many of the branded versions are just badged Baotian (Chinese) scooters, however, it doesnt matter if you buy the branded version or the Baotian, they are all crap.

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Buy cheap 1: - with the keyboard, it was only £40 less than my Blackberry Playbook (Not exactly a "Fire and bin" price) and,

 

Buy cheap 2: - As said above, the same NIC chip was put into laptops across the range, including Dell !

 

So,  across-the-board from poor to rich.

 

Another case of Procurement finger trouble.

 

A bit  like the "Tested-to-Destruction", 4 four wheel depreciating assets which are being so heavily advertised at present. If that's tested to destruction, I'm an anti-ballistic missile system.

 

Whatever happened to prototyping ? Or is it just a rush  to production and kitten the wash-back.

 

If a numpty like me, and thousands of others, can, through normal operation of the device,  stumble on this issue, what pre-production "Testing" can have been done? Nada , that's what.  Its all CAD and 'puter modelling and no practical testing. To be fair, with Moore's Law applying, unless they get it to market within 18 months, they would be wasting their time . it would be interesting to know what the time scales are from concept to sales outlet.

 

Otherwise, apart from this small niggle, and the fact that the touchpad on the supplied keyboard isn't offset (As is the case with modern laptops) to avoid accidental activation by the heel of your hand palm  I'm impressed.  And the MK2 (Available now ?), with a 60GB SSD and 4 GB Ram is what the MK1 should have been. 

 

Nick

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