Eve-Tech Launches Pre-Orders For The Hivemind-Designed 'Eve V' Hybrid

Eve-Tech has made its Eve V hybrid computer available for pre-order via Indiegogo.

Eve V was designed by the masses at a community site where anyone could discuss the product's components, design, and other specifications. Several aspects of the device, from the decision to include a stylus called the V Pen to whether it should prioritize battery life or portability, were determined based on the community's feedback. Eve-Tech has now finalized the product's design, so how does the Eve V compare to other hybrid devices?

The specs list suggests that the top-line Eve V is similar to the Surface Pro 4, Asus Transformer 3 Pro, and Dell XPS 13. They all have the same 512GB SSD for storage, 16GB LPDDR3 for RAM, and roughly 12.3" display. But the Eve V has a bigger battery than all but the XPS 13; a brighter display with higher contrast; four speakers; and 7th-gen (Kaby Lake) Intel processors instead of the 6th-gen (Skylake) chips in the Surface Pro 4 and Transformer 3 Pro.

But perhaps the Eve V's biggest advantage is its price. The Surface Pro 4, Transformer 3 Pro, and XPS 13 all cost more than $1,000. The Eve V costs less, although it's not clear how Eve-Tech drove the price down so much. Perhaps Intel, which is said to have invested "six figures" into the company, is subsidizing its processors. (Eve-Tech is also receiving some form of support from Microsoft.) Most people are unlikely to care, though, as long as they save money.

Eve-Tech made 500 units available for pre-order via Indiegogo. It was available in three configurations: a baseline Core m3 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage for $699; a Core i5 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage for $959; and the pro model with a Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,399. Each option came with the $39 V Pen and $25 Alcantara keyboard. Both the core and pro models are sold out, but the mid-range option is available.