At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the HP Pavilion Wave as just another stylish portable laptop or handheld digital assistant. However, it is really both of those things, but then again, it’s also a mini PC crammed with lots of handy features. And that very unique form factor serves a very practical purpose on a desktop as well. So, let’s talk about the benefits of this unique design.
First off, lets talk about the size. At just under 3 inches, the touch screen is small enough to fit in your hand when you’re playing a computer game. It also has a high density pixel display, which means you get good clear pictures and crisp sound. Contrast that to the typical portable laptop, which can be several inches thick and weigh several pounds. The touch screen on the mini PCs is significantly smaller than the competition, so the text on the screen is sharp and crisp – even on the cheapest models.
Next up is the price. Like many other mini PCs, the best one on the market today is an Intel compute stick. With six megapixels for the most detailed graphics, along with two gigabytes of RAM and a terabyte hard drive, an Intel compute stick can easily rival high end laptops such as the MacBook Pro, Sony VAIO, and others for the best price. While the prices are comparable, what sets them apart is the incredible price difference between the bundled models and the stand alone models. Add to that the bundled wireless adapter, and you’ve just made a great entertainment system for a lot less money.
Streamlining your workspace is an important benefit of the touch screen on the mini PC. Not only is it perfect for streaming a movie, streaming an HD video, streaming a music file, or editing a picture – you can do so much more with it. For example, you could use it to quickly perform basic productivity tasks like web browsing, internet chatting, and emailing – all while watching a movie. If you’re into PowerPoint, then there’s plenty of functionality here as well.
What about streaming a movie? With this technology, you get high definition video and sound quality in your desktop replacement. The best mini is for movies are powered by the quad-core Intel Bay Trail processor and the integrated HD Graphics 400. Add in enough memory and you can start streaming full-length movies in a matter of minutes. And just think about all the possibilities – you could start streaming live sports games!
The mini pc’s integrated optical audio jack offers excellent connectivity options. With all of the new gadgets on the market today, it’s easy to forget that some of them require an adapter for your laptop. The best mini PCs incorporate DVI/DVI-D inputs, so you can easily connect your iPod, iPhone, or other portable media player to your computer. You’ll also find several standard audio connectors (HDMI, RCA, optical), as well as Firewire and USB ports, so you can connect your home theater system to your laptop and enjoy the crystal clear sound.
Mini PC computers are just as powerful as desktop replacements, but they lack the extra oomph created by the beefier models. But don’t let the small size and simple design fool you – the low-end models offer lots of power in a small package. You’ll find a generous amount of memory and processing power, as well as standard graphics and video output options. Don’t forget that when you’re working on streaming media, you need to have access to high-speed internet. In fact, if you’re into home entertainment, then you’re probably going to need an external DVD/CD player/source as well as a good, high-speed wireless network. With the right mini PC, you can get all this done with the right accessories.
For basic use, the cheapest mini PCs typically offer integrated graphic card options. However, with an integrated graphics card and decent RAM, you should be able to get quite a bit of basic performance. Other common options include a standard hard drive and/or solid state drive (SSD). Depending on how often you plan to store movies, music, or photos, you may decide to upgrade to one of the latest advancements in technology-the mini is with a large hard drive and multiple gigabytes (gigabytes) of memory.