• expired

Ollee ML130S 13.3-inch FHD Laptop (Intel Celeron, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC with M.2 Slot) $198 @ Harvey Norman

300

First post, sorry if any errors.

Quite cheap laptop with 13.3 inch 1080p screen for basic computing tasks. Has only 32GB eMMC storage but appears to have an empty M.2 slot allowing it to accept reasonably sized + much faster SSD storage.

1.35kg weight.

CPU: Celeron N3350.
I/O: 2x USB 3.0, mini-HDMI, microSD card reader, headphone/mic combo jack.
OS: Windows 10 Home.
Networking: Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac Wifi.

Combine with other things to get HN Amex statement credit cashback (Spend $350 get $50 back) if you previously subscribed. Delivery also free if using Shipster, otherwise $5.95 or free C&C.

Please note that despite my username I have nothing to do with Harvey Norman thankfully

Related Stores

Harvey Norman
Harvey Norman

closed Comments

  • +1

    Is the danger here that this gets a cheaper version of windows because of the 32gb eMMC and then when you put in an M.2 SSD it no longer meets the criteria for cheaper windows 10 and you then have to pay to activate it?

    See here:
    https://liliputing.com/2016/09/dont-see-cheap-windows-device…

    • nope will still activate normally. i have installed a few m.2 drives in these with no issues installing win 10. they are quite a nice well finished laptop for the price. perfect for browsing and simple tasks

    • Think that only applies to manufacturers who have to sell the computers with sad storage space in order to qualify for cheap preloaded Windows 10.

      Doubt microsoft would care what end users do with their systems after purchase. Also one reviewer on the HN website said they added a 256GB SSD and reported no problems like that.

    • +6

      That makes no sense whatsoever and not how it works.

      Your article which is old and now outdated is simply stating the requirements set out by Microsoft for manufacturers to get cheap Windows licenses. Back then the Intel Atom processors were heavily subsidised too.

      Manufacturers these days are still able to get Windows licenses cheap, but they must have RAM below 8GB otherwise they have to pay extra. That's why there are a lot of Chinese models (Chuwi, Teclast, Jumper etc.) with 6GB of RAM.

      The M.2 slot won't affect the Windows licenses at all. As long as you clone or reinstall onto the new SSD and activate correctly you will be fine.

  • +1
  • +2

    Windows is not a good target operating system for these limited things.

    Look into a noob friendly linux distro, like Mint, with the Cinamon disktop.

    Tempted to get one just for the sake of ungodly battery life.

    • +5

      My China laptop with Pentium (Apollo Lake) N4200 and 4GB RAM runs flawlessly with Windows.

      The major problem with installing Linux on these cheaper laptops is driver compatibility. Many of the cheaper Intel network drivers do not work with Linux.

    • +1

      This whirlpool user reports that it works well with Windows 10 once you put in an SSD.

      https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2770173

    • should look at xfce not cinnamon for these laptops
      mint xfce, xubuntu, manjaro xfce are all very nice beginner friendly distros

    • It really depends on how good the drivers are – I've had laptops where I'd only get half the battery life running Linux as I would in Windows due to driver inefficiencies, whereas others would run fine.

  • +1

    Just by looking at the specs, i believe most people will have issues when you first buy this. I've bought a CHUWI Lapbook SE from china, which has a 32gb emmc main boot drive and a 128gb m.2 ssd. the problem is, when you boot windows on this thing, it will want to run windowss updates, but it cant because there isnt enough space, i'm wondering if you will be screwed and have to get a tech savvy friend to get another drive to migrate your gimped windows over onto.

    • +1

      Yeah it really needs the M.2 SSD to run well, but those are quite affordable now.

      This guy cloned the eMMC drive to the SSD he installed so he ended up with a decently size C: drive. Seems to have worked well for him.

      https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2770173

    • you can do the update by using storage off the usb port where you store the update file …….

      32 gb is a pinch , especially if you are buying it for a relative e.g. granny to use ……

      you’d need to add extra storage in the m.2.

      for some people who don’t own a pc this would be handier than trying to do certain things on a mobile phone .

  • +5

    I bought the similarly specced Lenovo IdeaPad 100S-14IBR with 4gb/32gb emmc as a school BYOD.

    windows could not update due to the limited size of the emmc drive.

    added a 256gb m.2 drive and then combined the 2 drives into one partition using diskmanagement -computer then registered one drive @ 288gb.

    updated windows with no problem on the next boot up.

    to combine the drives took literally 1 minute using this guide

    • I bought the similarly specced Lenovo IdeaPad 100S-14IBR with 4gb/32gb emmc as a school BYOD.
      windows could not update due to the limited size of the emmc drive.

      I encountered this exact thing with my Lenovo Ideapad. Soldered emmc drive can't be upgraded. Thanks Lenovo!

    • But wouldn't you still want Windows on the M.2?

      Did you put it on the M.2?

      • Could you explain to me why putting windows on the M.2 would be the better option compared to virtually combining the two drives?

        Does using that method mean to have the machine ignore the eMMC, making it run everything from the M.2 and be more optimal? I'm not sure which route to go. orz

        • +1

          If you opt for a striped drive you will get better performance by having them combined, but if you ever want to add/remove drives you'd have to backup, reformat and restore. Spanned drive will be about the same speed or slower. The advantage of a spanned drive is that it's easy to add/remove drives, resize the volume etc.

          Downside of both striped and spanned is no parity, meaning if one drive fails you lose data on all drives.

          Considering the eMMC portion is only 32GB I wouldn't recommend having Windows on that. Instead some people use it for driver backups and other less important stuff. I personally would stick with an M.2 SSD + 32GB eMMC.

  • I'm interested to now how well neverware would run on this laptop.

  • One user post on WP sounds convincing but is there anyone here have experience with this? Tempting to get one to replace old Chromebook which screen started to play up.

    Does anyone know if Windows 10 Home has Remote Desktop client? Thanks.

    • Yes it does. The Remote Desktop Connection client program is available in all editions of Windows including Windows 10 Home and Mobile. The RDP server required to access a Windows PC remotely is however only available on PCs running either Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise editions.

      • Thanks for confirming.

      • Team Viewer 14 is a great Remote Access program (free if non-commercial use)if you can't use Remote Desktop.

  • is that ram soldered on?

    • more than likely yes

  • OP thanks. Reserved for C&C.

  • +1

    You can get away with 32GB for Win-10.
    The trick is not to try and do major windows releases as an in-place upgrade.

    Just download the current ISO - version 1809 - do a clean install, and let it find the drivers.

  • Thanks OP 👍
    Been looking for lightweight laptop; with option to upgrade to m2 drive and a mini-hdmi port then I was sold. 😎

  • Where's the 'this thing has 4GB, it's useless' crew (despite the cost)? Put down your Dominos fellas…

    • Whoops sorry….. Cough…cough…. 'This things is useless, can only open 1 tab in chrome and its chugs on YouTube and prawnhub' :)

  • +1

    I'm wondering why so cheap?

    HN isn't known for good deeds….

    • +1

      Maybe they ain't selling so they are clearing them out? Or new models are coming out!?

      • I'm kind of guessing here ( although a bit calculated going on experience lol ), but can think a three reasons why this might be selling currently on a flash 2 day sale for the really low price of $198.

        1/ Brand name not recognised/respected.

        2/ Out of the two reviews on the H.N. website and one does not instil confidence to someone who wants a reliable entry level machine that just works out of the box. Review here below,….
        "I bought this a month or two ago and this is the slowest laptop I ever owned! It freezes every 5 minutes and it sometimes can’t turn off when you want to turn it off. The charger plug is bluky and the cord is short on top of that. The only thing great about it is the battery life."

        If you read the first positive review that person sounds like he had reasonable expectations and also improved it with a SSD.

        3/ Only has 32GB ROM ( although there are other systems with this amount of storage selling for more $$$, but would put many buyers off now after reading experiences of hard to update windows etc. )

        My spin on all the above is, although only a Celeron dual core, only 4GB DDR3 ram ( probably not up-gradable ), only 32GB eMMC rom ( up-gradable via M2 slot ), and being a no name brand, as long as you have low expectations of this computer, would suit many young students and work well as a light duty travelling go to.

        On the positive side, install a faster/larger M2 SSD, use this computer for low performance tasks like light browsing, emails, word documents, some photos, and youtube etc and the FHD screen, longish battery life ( 5-7 hrs ), fast ac wifi, and light portability with reasonably good looks might surprise you in a good way. If the Logo worries you, just apply a nice sticker over it lol.

        • I concur with your comments.

          Only had the laptop for a day and I'm surprised how good the quality of build and screen is. Side by side with my 2013 MacBook Pro, there is a striking resemblance!

          Browsing, Word, etc perfectly adequate performance got a lightweight portable device.

          Installed an m.2 250Gb, cloned MMC using Macrium Reflect and rebooted using m.2 drive.

          All good and works a treat 👍

          • @MrMiser: What ssd did you go with, the one i ordered appears to got lost in the mail so I'm trying to figure what one to buy.

  • Any feedback on these units from those who bought? Waiting to C&C mine.

    Also which M.2s fit in these size wise? Edit seems like it's 2242 on the wp post

    • +1

      Hatch is only big enough for 2242 and mine has just arrived…It's IPS screen yay!

  • +1

    ok….using a liveusb with Ubuntu mate…. Sound works, wifi works, bluetooth appears to work….
    However my touchpad does not appear to function so I might have to source some drivers for that…. Feeling happy so far….
    Thursday-ish I'll hope to receive my 256gb 2242 m.2 drive and I'll proceed to dual boot the device with win10+Some linux distro.

  • 4.19 kernel(What manjaro 18 uses I believe) on linux will allow the touchpad to operate in my tests…. So I believe we have a fully operational linux laptop for cheap. :)

    • +1

      Touchpad works fine with kernel 4.18.16-300 on Fedora 29 Live usb.

      • cool, Thanks for telling me :)

  • Already on "clearance" for $248- lol.

Login or Join to leave a comment