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There is no doubt that in the world of technology, the smaller the better, something that is evident in the modern computer industry. That’s why there is no shortage of super compact computers that are designed to be used anywhere and everywhere, making computing virtually ubiquitous. However, these machines are not really computers, although they can be duplicated as such, at least for educational purposes. Although you can buy a high-end Raspberry Pi for under $ 100, you wouldn’t normally use it to replace your desktop. However, what if you are tired of the bulky tower you have for your home (or business) computing? This is where mini-computers come in.
Minicomputers are high-tech devices that use laptop technology to deliver desktop performance, in a significantly smaller footprint, and with a fraction of the electricity consumption of a tower machine. This makes them the greenest option out there. Minicomputers boast relatively large RAM, good graphics, and high-speed web connectivity (both wired and Wi-Fi), while at the same time having fast processors to go along with all of that. They usually come equipped with high-end SSD hard drives and plenty of USB 3.0 ports. The best component is that they are very light, compact and relatively quiet (the latest generation comes with state-of-the-art heatsinks that allow them to be completely silent).
Of course, these machines may not have room for a Blue-Ray or DVD drive, but let’s be honest, when was the last time you used one of these? Also, nowadays you can buy an external device to play your discs at a very reasonable price. Speaking of price, mini-computers are generally not that cheap, as they use cutting edge technology to accommodate their small size. However, their cost has dropped significantly over the past year and they are generally just as inexpensive, if not cheaper, than a low-end laptop with the same computing power.
When would you use these high-end PCs, you ask? Well luckily they come with a variety of use cases. The most important are the following:
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Media Machines – Mini-PCs can generally accommodate your media needs as they come with a pretty good graphics card, an audio card, and HDMI connectivity. Also, the fact that they are silent makes them better for this purpose. Some models even support ultra high definition (4K) displays.
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Home Computing – If you use your PC to browse the Internet, work in an office suite, and perform minimal data processing (for example, image enhancement, scripting, sound engineering, etc.), this type of machine has got you covered.
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Personal Cloud Servers / Solutions – Today, data is often found on the internet. If Dropbox, One Drive, and the other cloud alternatives feel insecure or too expensive for your data needs, mini computers can help. As a bonus, you can also host your site on such a machine, until it becomes very popular, in which case you can look for a more scalable solution.
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Games: Unless you are a professional gamer and need a supercomputer for your hobby, a mini computer can do the trick. As an added bonus, it is highly portable, making it easy to take with you on a trip or to your friend’s place. Also, the fact that it can support more than one monitor makes it very useful for more elaborate games.
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Another: with a machine like that, your imagination is the only limit. Maybe you are an advanced user and want to build a (reliable) cluster to mine BitCoins or process Big Data. Get some of these machines and you’re done! Maybe you want to run scientific tests or come across the next largest prime number, without risking burning down your laptop. This type of PC could work!
We mentioned earlier that these machines are high-end and often quite expensive. However, it is possible to get one of these machines without spending all your savings and without having to compromise on performance. See the resource box for more details.