Primary Controller

Hey all,
I'm upgrading my ASI 1600MM Pro and switching to the QHY MiniCam8 to move to a back-illuminated sensor. 
This will break my current setup using the ASIAIR and I will have to switch over to a new controller.

I am considering switching to a windows-based mini-pc controller, but I'm open to opinions and thoughts.
I am also debating whether or not to get an RB Focus Gaius S2

RB Focus Gaius S2

What do you use and why do you like it? 
What drawbacks and advantages does your setup have?
 

Thanks again in advance and I look forward to hearing some new options.

ASIAir is great, but only if you use ZWO gear exclusively. Limited in some ways, strong in others. 

Some thoughts on the RB Focus are here: https://scopetrader.com/telescope-control-system-rb-focus-gaius-s2/

The pre-installed software and drivers are a plus, I grow a little wery of all-in-one units - plus "pre-installed" and "updated" only to the date it was ghosted on the machine, so prepare to update everything. One good thing (and often bad thing) about ZWO ASIAIR are the frequent updates and attention to innovation. With the RB Focus, it's all on you to update things.

Take "pre-installed" out of the question, and consider for $250 -$300 USD, you can get a more powerful mini-PC with Windows 11 pre-installed. Then you update NINA, ASCOM, drivers, etc to the latest and viola, you sort of have the same thing overall, minus the power options (but I use Amazon smart plugs for power (or a digital loggers remote power unit), installed into a UPS - don't forget your battery backup! Oh, and Touch-N-Stars is great but not part of this package, so you if you want to use that you'll need to configure it anyway. https://scopetrader.com/touch-n-stars-interface-for-nina/

A note about built-in power: The main reason I keep my power control separate from the controller itself, is if I lose access to my controller box when remote, and I detect something like a "soon to crash mount collision",  or something where I need to hit the "all stop" button, it's as easy as opening the Amazon, Alexa app and clicking the appropriate plug OFF or just saying "Alexa, telescope off!".

The RB Focus CPU is underpowered IMO - but it sounds like much of the Windows UI elements are turned off by default making it seem snappy, but somewhat limited in my mind. 

I dig the built-in hotspot, but that sort of kills any mesh-network you have going. I like my scopes to me on my same network so I don't have to switch in and out of networks while imaging.

Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with the RB focus unit. It definitely has a lot going for it and is mostly fully integrated. But at the heart of it is a Windows powered PC, so I tend to gravitate more towards better hardware over integration because the RB focus compromises some in that regard. And the fact that I have to install updated drivers and keep other software current on it anyway, the preinstalled notion tends to lose its luster pretty quick with me. So in my opinion, the money is better spent on a faster, more powerful PC that would be slightly smaller anyway and then control your power using something totally separate.