ASUS announces VivoMini UN62 and UN42 compact PCs

[HEXUS]

These SFF PCs make use of 4th gen Intel processors, offer quiet, efficient computing.

Read more.

[SineWave]

Like! Especially the most expensive one. That should be enough for juat about 99.9% of the population to make their "computing" on. Excluding: gaming, pro audio, pro video and graphics to an extent. I'm looking forward to a lower electrical power bill. ;P

I have a beast that consumes ~300W and it's completely stupid to run that for browsing and general usage. When I buy this I'll use it most of the time, but when I need to record and make audio I'll just fire up the beast. Simply and reasonably.

[LSG501]

hmm that base model one seems like a potential media pc if you have a server to stream stuff from. You don't need a lot of storage drive on the pc used for playback, it's just a case of if the celeron is up to the task of 1080p h265 (need to support even if not using it now) or even 4k...

[SineWave]

I would also praise Asus that it doesn't come with an operating system so you can put whatever you want on it. It's Linux all the way for me, thank you, and I don't have to pay the M$ tax. Brilliant move Asus! [but if someone wants Windows OS you can have it also.]

[CK_1985]

...easily tucked away around the back of a monitor thanks to its VESA-mountability...

Nothing against Hexus, but everyone really needs to stop saying this. Can you show me one half-decent monitor that actually has a usable VESA mount on the back these days? They ALL use the VESA mount for the monitor stand, so there's no way of mounting anything to it. Heck, even my crummy 19" monitors at work don't have usable VESA holes.

It drives me mad!

[CustardInc]

Nothing against Hexus, but everyone really needs to stop saying this. Can you show me one half-decent monitor that actually has a usable VESA mount on the back these days? They ALL use the VESA mount for the monitor stand, so there's no way of mounting anything to it. Heck, even my crummy 19" monitors at work don't have usable VESA holes.

It drives me mad!

Err... both of my monitors are wall mounted (cheap 1080p LG monitors). I'm constantly seeing pictures of double and triple monitor arrays mounted on multi-monitor stands. As far as I know there are more monitors with VESA mounts than without, but I suppose I haven't done any monitor shopping in a year or so.

[LSG501]

Err... both of my monitors are wall mounted (cheap 1080p LG monitors). I'm constantly seeing pictures of double and triple monitor arrays mounted on multi-monitor stands. As far as I know there are more monitors with VESA mounts than without, but I suppose I haven't done any monitor shopping in a year or so.

I don't think that's quite what he means.... I think he means sticking the asus behind the screen while still using the standard stand, something that can't be done when the screen is mounted to the stand via the vesa mounts.

[CK_1985]

I don't think that's quite what he means.... I think he means sticking the asus behind the screen while still using the standard stand, something that can't be done when the screen is mounted to the stand via the vesa mounts.

Exactly. Seems these days that only very cheap monitors have actual vacant VESA mounts on the back. The rest of them are, as you say, taken up by the existing stands.

Edit: Woooo 500th post!

[aceuk]

I don't have to pay the MS tax.

Windows 8.1 with Bing is free for manufacturers so there isn't a MS tax.

[AlexKitch]

"including Windows 8.1" *YEEEYYYY!* "with Bing" *AWWWH..*

Seriously though - although somewhat unrelated, Microsoft need to stop trying to make a Bing a thing.

[LSG501]

Seriously though - although somewhat unrelated, Microsoft need to stop trying to make a Bing a thing.

really.... it makes things cheaper plus it's not like you can't turn it off. Besides 8.1 also searches Bing (yeah I know, can't say I use it either) so you're getting normal 8.1 under a different name for free lol.

[xslavic]

If you want a HTPC based on that hardware ... maybe only for netflix cause it will stutter with MPC-HC and any kind of processing applied.

[DanceswithUnix]

Windows 8.1 with Bing is free for manufacturers so there isn't a MS tax.

So it is a graded tax, with a nil rate for underpowered machines.

I grant you it is not as dumb as the netbook limitations on Windows 7 starter edition, but less than 9 inch screen and under $250 make it pretty certain it won't appear on anything I consider useful.

Mind you a quick Google on the subject leaves me with some confusion on whether it really is free. Cheap certainly, but probably not free.

[Noli]

This Zotac CI540 nano sounds better... literally - it's fanless.
Still Core i5, can install own SSD, ac wireless, gigabit etc.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8665/zotac-zbox-ci540-nano-review-a-fanless-haswelly-minipc

[Darth Sidious]

poor mans mac mini

[SineWave]

It depends on your definition of "poor". I consider OS-X users poor, because my definition of poor is... different.