Progress doesn’t stand still and every year electronic devices are becoming smaller and at the same time, their performance is increasing. These modifications concern smartphones, cameras, and also desktop computers. Mini PCs are no longer the future, but the present.

Is it a good idea to buy a mini PC

The PC market has been transformed by the passage of the pandemic and the introduction of quarantine measures. In 2020, 15% more PCs were sold than in 2019. This trend has continued into 2021 and is being observed now.

The shift to a remote work format has driven the purchase of mobile solutions as well as desktop and compact PCs. The usual desktops were mostly taken apart by gamers, and minicomputers became an alternative to notebooks and monoblocks, which are still not too popular in our country.

To tell the truth, many people are also skeptical of the minicomputer, because of the limited ability to upgrade and performance. However, if you cut off the gaming component, the compact boxes can actually be very practical.

Well, if you want to buy a mini PC, here’s what you should know about it.

What is a mini PC

You can literally hide the mini PC on your desk and nothing will give away its presence. Moreover, if you’re comfortable working from a sofa or bed, you can use a TV to display the picture. It’s quite a realistic scenario when users carried mini PCs with them when they had to travel to the office.

In the office and at home they had monitors waiting for them, which in addition are often equipped with USB hubs, so it’s enough to connect one of the digital interfaces (HDMI or DP) and one common USB cord.

Maximum comfort is achieved by using wireless keyboards and mice so that the wires don’t take up space in the workplace at all.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the small size of the mini PC

The biggest advantage of a mini PC is its size. It’s usually several times smaller than a standard system unit. This helps to save space in your workplace and provides more options for positioning your PC. For example, one of the most popular options for placing a small PC is on the back of a monitor.

Another advantage of a mini PC is the reduced power consumption. However, you shouldn’t overestimate this factor and compare them with mobile devices. The fact is that, unlike them, the mini PC is used together with standard monitors and, therefore, the energy savings will be insignificant.

The disadvantages of the compact computer include the following:

• Lower productivity due to the reduced size of components.
• Operating the equipment in a confined space increases the risk of overheating.
• Also, small space can lead to more dust accumulation and as a consequence of related problems.

There’s another possible advantage to using a mini PC. It’s the possibility of its more convenient transportation. However, this is a very dubious advantage, because if you have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, it’s unlikely anyone will use a mini PC as a portable device. And most tasks can be performed even on a smartphone, let alone a laptop.

What is the important factor for choosing a mini PC

When choosing a normal or mini PC, it’s also worth considering the ease and cost of maintaining it. In most cases, repairing compact PCs will cost more. This is due to the fact that the components of a small PC are smaller and therefore a more “delicate” approach is required to repair it.

Also, this class of PCs has one peculiarity – in order to save space, most of the components are integrated into the mainboard. Therefore, if in a normal PC it will be enough to replace one component for repair, for a mini PC in this case, it may be necessary to replace the whole unit or make expensive repairs.

This feature of compact PCs is characteristic of many models, but there are also instances with a modular system like a standard PC. Therefore, when buying, you need to take this factor into account as well.

Also, an important factor is the ease of disassembly of the case. Some models come with a seamless case, on which there’s not a single screw. Such computers look nice and stylish, but when the need to get inside appears, you may have problems.