Eve V Uses Open-Source Concepts to Take on Microsoft’s Surface Pro

Microsoft’s Surface Pro won’t have the high-end hybrid market all to itself. That’s the pitch the folks behind a new device called the Eve V are making. The Eve V stole the show at Computex last week with an outstanding hybrid design, impressive specifications and a price that puts all other high-end devices to shame. But perhaps the Eve V’s most interesting attribute is its origin. The device wasn’t created in a well-funded corporate research-and-development lab, but rather with help from more than 1,000 hardware enthusiasts who helped select the features built into the devices. The Eve V is a fully crowd-sourced hardware venture, and one that many Computex attendees believe, could become practice in the hybrid market. Read on to learn more about the Eve V.  

Unlike its computers, the Eve V is a crowdsourced hybrid. Eve looked to more than 1,000 hardware enthusiasts around the world to choose its specs, and last year, the computer was listed on Indiegogo. The company hoped to raise $75,000 through the Eve V campaign; it closed at $1.4 million in funds from more than 4,200 backers.

The Eve V is a two-in-one hybrid that can be used both as a notebook and tablet. A keyboard can be attached to the touch-screen for use as a notebook, and the device has a kickstand to adjust the screen angle. When users want a tablet, they can detach the keyboard.

The Eve V comes with a choice of three Intel processors. The cheapest model runs on the Intel Core m3, and models running the Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 are also available. The top-of-the-line Intel Core i7 model has a clock speed of up to 3.6GHz.

When designing the Eve V, the hardware enthusiasts made it clear they wanted ports. And that’s what the device has. The Eve V comes with two full-sized USB 3.1 ports and one USB-C port. Also included are a Thunderbolt 3 port and a microSD card reader.

The Eve V ships with a 12.3-inch IGZO LCD panel with a 2,736-by-1,824-pixel resolution. It has a 1,400:1 contrast ratio and 450 nits of brightness. It also features full touch input, as well as support for a stylus for digital writing on the screen.

The Eve V promises 12 hours of battery life on a single charge during normal use. It achieves that through the combination of a 48 watt-hour lithium-ion battery and “purpose-built” algorithms that dramatically improve power management, according to Eve.

Customers can choose either Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro in the Eve V. Eve V also won’t include any bloatware, setting it apart from competing devices, which all come with annoying software add-ons.

For those who want to write on the screen, the Eve V supports the V Pen. The accessory comes with 1,024 pressure levels and works with Windows Ink, allowing users to digitally write on the screen. The Eve V works with other styluses on the market, as well.

On the security front, the Eve V doesn’t disappoint. A fingerprint reader on the side can recognize a person and authorize access in 0.1 seconds. According to Eve, the V stores all biometric data on the device in full encryption, never with third-parties or online.

Arguably, the Eve V’s most appealing feature is its price. The Eve V will start at $799 and will include a keyboard, V Pen and magnetic sleeve for protection. The Eve V is expected to ship sometime in June.