Portability and space-saving for computers are generally traits of slim laptops and lightweight tablets, or the new generation of hybrid PCs that combine aspects of both. Several years ago, an eternity in technology time, there was another popular breed of small computers, called small form factor or media center PCs. Some connected to TVs for media streaming and PC-based DVR recording, while others were used as aesthetically appealing work or home computers for those who hated the look of boxy tower desktops.
Since then, home theater types have largely switched to streaming devices such as the Roku or Apple TV, and PC users have shifted in large numbers to laptops and tablets. A handful of small PCs, some hardly larger than a few Roku boxes stacked together, stuck around, but it wasn't what we'd call a growth area.
In late 2014 and early 2015, we've seen a small but significant resurgence in this category, with mini desktops that have been redesigned or upgraded to compete in both price and performance. Some are low-power boxes designed to work unobtrusively in the background, while others are surprisingly ambitious for computers that cost less than $500.
Keeping these systems to their roughly $500 configurations, it's easy to point toward one over the others, depending on your needs. The HP Mini gives you a ton of storage, plus accessories, at the expense of processing power. Apple's Mac Mini has the fastest processor, plus OS X and all of Apple's generally excellent included software. Dell's Alienware Alpha experiment in PC-as-game-console is a work in progress, to be generous, but the expansive library of PC games, dating back decades, is more interesting than current-gen consoles any day.
Beyond these three recent mini desktops, there are other tiny PCs that are worth a look. The insanely inexpensive Raspberry Pi is more of a hobbyist's computer than a mainstream machine. A few PC makers offer Chromebox systems, using Google's Chrome OS instead of Windows or OS X, and Intel showed off a concept for a very low-cost PC-on-a-stick at CES 2015, powered by that company's Atom processors.
source - CNET : Big showdown for mini desktops
Since then, home theater types have largely switched to streaming devices such as the Roku or Apple TV, and PC users have shifted in large numbers to laptops and tablets. A handful of small PCs, some hardly larger than a few Roku boxes stacked together, stuck around, but it wasn't what we'd call a growth area.
In late 2014 and early 2015, we've seen a small but significant resurgence in this category, with mini desktops that have been redesigned or upgraded to compete in both price and performance. Some are low-power boxes designed to work unobtrusively in the background, while others are surprisingly ambitious for computers that cost less than $500.
Keeping these systems to their roughly $500 configurations, it's easy to point toward one over the others, depending on your needs. The HP Mini gives you a ton of storage, plus accessories, at the expense of processing power. Apple's Mac Mini has the fastest processor, plus OS X and all of Apple's generally excellent included software. Dell's Alienware Alpha experiment in PC-as-game-console is a work in progress, to be generous, but the expansive library of PC games, dating back decades, is more interesting than current-gen consoles any day.
Beyond these three recent mini desktops, there are other tiny PCs that are worth a look. The insanely inexpensive Raspberry Pi is more of a hobbyist's computer than a mainstream machine. A few PC makers offer Chromebox systems, using Google's Chrome OS instead of Windows or OS X, and Intel showed off a concept for a very low-cost PC-on-a-stick at CES 2015, powered by that company's Atom processors.
Intel's Curie. It is tiny PC.
It is unaffected phenomenon to appear mini PCs because hardware is smaller, software is lighter and WIFI pulls trigger to lead changes.
Like this article noted, PC will be smaller than now. And it means 'mini' is to be 'tiny' such as Raspberry Pi, Crome Cast and Curie of Intel.
And finally it will be vanished.
If talked like this just 5 years ago, everybody said it is just fantasy story. But it is not, it is real at now.
source - CNET : Big showdown for mini desktops
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