The author expresses their preference for small laptops and phones, which have become less common in the market. They mention the availability of Raspberry Pi/CM4-based tiny laptops as an alternative to expensive Sony UMPCs. The Lichee Console 4A, based on RISC-V SoC, caught the author’s attention, and they ordered it immediately. They provide information about the specifications, build quality, and keyboard feel of the device. They highlight the small inconvenient keys on the keyboard used in Linux consoles. The author also discusses the battery, software, build quality, and performance of the Lichee Console. They mention the high static power consumption of the device, which affects battery life and causes it to become warm even at idle. The author suggests potential solutions to reduce power consumption and mentions some missing software features. They conclude that while the Lichee Console has flaws, their overall experience with it is positive. They express hope for further development of RISC-V SoCs and the availability of more exciting and capable Linux-compatible devices in the future.
https://3.14.by/en/read/RISC-V-Sipeed-Lichee-Console-4A-Alibaba-T-Head-TH1520-review