As varied as the available add-ons are for Raspberry Pi and other SBCs, there aren’t many to easily turn your tiny computer into a business laptop. Sure, there have been a few launched on crowdfunding sites or even directly from manufacturers, but these were usually aimed at STEM users. As such, these are usually packed in features unnecessary for someone just looking to make a laptop out of their Raspberry Pi.

Enter Elecrow with its CrowView Note 14. This goes way beyond just providing a portable display for your SBC, since it also integrates a keyboard, touchpad, battery, and several USB ports. Let’s take a look at the CrowView Note to see how well it can meet the needs of someone who wants to make their Raspberry Pi a fully functional portable computer.

Price and availability

Elecrow sells the CrowView Note for $169, not including a bridge board for your SBC. These bridge boards allow you to plug in your Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano without needing USB or HDMI cables. CrowView offers two bridge boards, one for the Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 and one for the Jetson Nano Dev Kit for an additional $7 each.

What I like

A budget, but not flimsy, build

Elecrow may have built the CrowView Note almost entirely from plastic, but it still feels fairly sturdy. There is a tiny bit of give when you press the plastic surrounding the keyboard, but it isn’t too concerning. You might find the sound of the keypresses is slightly hollow, but again — not really something to worry about.

Looking at the CrowView Note, you definitely won’t think “premium laptop.” However, that’s clearly not what the “laptop” is intended to be. It’s a budget all-in-one KVM solution that is perfectly suited for giving you a packaged display, keyboard, and pointing device for your SBC or other device.

Easily swap between devices

Thanks to the use of a bridge board and the smart use of USB-C, it’s easy to swap between devices on the CrowView Note. While the biggest reason for the “laptop” is for use with SBCs, you’re not limited to those. You can also plug the CrowView Note to a mobile phone, gaming console, or even a mini PC.

Beyond the Raspberry Pi and Jetson Nano SBCs, Elecrow promises the CrowView Note is also compatible with other boards like the Rock Pi, Orange Pi 4B and up, LattePanda, Beaglebone, and more. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more.

Comfortable, responsive keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard features a U.S. layout, and Elecrow also offers the device with a German keyboard layout. The typing experience is great, and I can use the laptop for extended periods without my fingers feeling cramped or strained. Several function keys serve as media control for audio playback as well as screen brightness.

The trackpad is equally responsive and generously sized. It handles left and right clicks at the corresponding bottom corners as well as allowing for a single tap to left click or a two-finger tap for right clicks.

Great FHD display for the price

Elecrow didn’t skimp on the display panel for the CrowView Note. The 14-inch FHD IPS panel produces vivid colors and 300 nits of brightness, making it easy to use even in bright environments. It also opens up to 180 degrees for using it flat.

Using the dual-purpose function keys, you can change inputs on the fly. The on-screen menu displays status messages whenever you press one of the function keys. The display consumes around 8W of power when the system is turned on.

What I don’t like

Perpetuates the need for a mini-HDMI cable

I’ve never been a fan of mini-HDMI, but I understand why the Raspberry Pi uses it instead of a full HDMI port. I do not, however, understand why Elecrow put one on the CrowView Note 14. Fortunately, Elecrow includes an HDMI to mini-HDMI cable in the box.

Even so, it seems unnecessary to me. There’s plenty of room along the side of the device to use full-sized HDMI, and ample room on the SBC bridge boards. By using mini HDMI, Elecrow has set us up for a major inconvenience if we ever lose the included cable. It would have been much appreciated to see the more common size used.

Dual function keys and OSD menu can be confusing

The symbols on the function keys aren’t entirely intuitive, and I still find myself using the wrong key assignment for several of them from time to time. If you’re accustomed to using the F1 through F12 keys within your software, you’ll need to also get used to pressing Fn+Esc to disable the assigned shortcut keys.

On the other hand, the ability to quickly switch inputs with the F1 key is definitely nice. When you switch between an SBC and another device plugged in via USB-C, for example, both devices remain powered. This way, you can easily switch back and forth between your Raspberry Pi and your gaming console.

Bridge boards could be better sized

Being able to plug my SBC quickly into the CrowView Note is nice, but it’s not a perfect experience. The tolerance in the connections is very tight, and you might worry about putting too much strain on the connectors when inserting or removing the SBC. I’ve yet to actually break the bridge kit or the connectors on my Raspberry Pi, but it’s still a bit anxiety-inducing.

The other issue I have with the bridge kit is that you simply cannot use it with a case. If your Raspberry Pi typically lives in a case, you’ll have to either remove it for use with the CrowView Note or make the connections with cables. You’ll also find that trying to use the adapter board with a bottom HAT is impossible, and some top-mounted HATs might interfere with connecting the USB-A bridge.

Should you buy the Elecrow CrowView Note 14?

You should buy the Elecrow CrowView Note 14 if:

• You want to be able to quickly connect your SBC or mobile phone to a laptop-like experience
• You often switch a display between devices but have limited space
• You want a portable display option for your gaming console

You shouldn’t buy the Elecrow CrowView Note 14 if:

• You want a premium product made of something other than plastic
• Your needs require better display resolution than 1080p
• You’re uncomfortable using your SBC outside of a case

Elecrow’s CrowView Note 14 is a good solution for anyone looking for a lightweight, portable way to add a display, keyboard, and trackpad to their SBC or other computing device. It easily turns any of these devices into a laptop, and it has the built-in KVM functionality to allow you to switch quickly and easily between devices.

However, if you’re looking for something with a premium aluminum chassis or case, this simply isn’t for you. This all-in-one display/keyboard/trackpad was never intended to be a more premium product and honestly isn’t priced as such.