In March 2024 I heard from somebody who was using the Wyse Xn0m as a general purpose laptop:
Having got a WYSE Xn0m not long ago I set it up for a friend to use as a basic web/work machine.
Here are things I learned along the way that you might like to know:
BIOS/RAM:
I fitted it out with a total of 6GB RAM (4GB+2GB that I just happened to have in my spares). I was
surprised to find that you can allocate a reserve of up to 2GB to the frame buffer. (Considering
the use case and amount of RAM I had fitted, it seemed like a perfect solution.)
SSD:
You can remove the original DOM bracket and its ballast by simply removing the three tiny black
screws that hold it on either side. You'll find yourself left with just enough room to fit a
regular 2.5in. SATA drive or SSD. (I would advise against a HDD, especially if it is on the thicker side.)
Here I used single-sided foam tape to pad out the SSD and ensure that it is held firmly in place.
The tape is the sort of tape that's sold as a draught excluder for fitting to window or door frames.
This is easily sourced from a hardware/home improvement store.
In my opinion it is the next best thing to both protect and hold the drive in place if you do not
have the right caddy/bracket. I have done the same in the past with a few used consumer-grade laptops
with pleasing results.
Real world capabilities:
Once you have a decent amount of RAM and Storage installed, it makes for a perfectly serviceable daily
driver. (I used Xubuntu as the OS). Office applications obviously work just fine, youtube playback
is surprisingly good as long as you don't absolutely need 1080p or over to enjoy watching anything.
On the games front I decided to fire
up Gran Turismo 2 on Duckstation. I am glad to say that I found it can run even the most demanding PS1
games at full speed as long as you run them at 1x resolution. (Your mileage may vary depending on the game
and emulator.)
In Summary I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get it up and running and how
usable it is as a day-to-day PC with simple modifications that anyone can do. I paid less than €100
for the laptop, charger, SSD and other accessories on the side. Battery seems to be good for 3-4 hours
in my case. Impressive!
