The perfect mini PC

Payton H. Wilmott, Gleaner Writer

The modern PC has come a long way since I was a child. I remember my first computing class, and how amazed I was with the games that were hot then.

The average computer then was huge and clunky, almost the same size as a microwave.

Anyway, let's fast-forward to the year 2010 where I have discovered the new Zotac MAG Mini PC. These PCs are so small and lightweight that they can be mounted on the back of any monitor. Let's find out more about what the Zotac has to offer.

Design

The Zotac's slim design took Saturday Life by surprise. Most persons wonder if it had the ability to do what was said on the box and play high-definition content. This flat square box comes stacked with numerous ports to satisfy all your computing needs, some of which are not standard on your everyday PC. Let's open this baby up and find out what makes it tick.

Basic specification

CPU - ATOM 330 - BGA 437

Memory - 2GB RAM

Memory type - DDR2 800 SO-DIMM

Onboard audio - eight-channel digital audio, stereo analogue audio

Onboard LAN GB (10/100/1000 Mbps) + 802.11n wireless

Onboard video - NVIDIA ION graphics processor

160 GB SATA hard drive

Six USB 2.0 Video port - VGA + HDMI

What the hell do I do with this ... this ... this thing?

Most of us lack vision and can't see a good thing, even if it slapped us in the forehead. Let me enlighten you on three ways this device can be used.

Home media centre

Do you have an HD television? Do you have a surround-sound system?

Then the Zotac MAG would be a great addition to the family. All you need to do is connect the HD television to the Zotac via high-definition multimedia interface or video graphics array, and connect your surround system to it by an optical cable. Now, your HD television has the ability to surf the Net, play 160GB of HD movie and music, and play Solitaire.

Starter PC

Children have the minds of the future, and a healthy mind needs to be fed. Given that the Zotac has no moving parts exposed, it's quite safe to say that it can withstand the destructive force of a growing child. All you need is a small table and a monitor. Mount the Zotac on the back of the monitor, out of the child's way, and a keyboard and a mouse. Now you have a nice work area where your child can do homework and research.

Internet café

The two major problems to running a business in Jamaica is the electricity and rent. Most high-powered computers in an Internet café cost a pretty penny to be up and running all day, not to mention the space these machines require.

The Zotac solves these two problems at once with its low power consumption and compact design, which helps to maximise on the amount of workstation space.

Final thoughts

The Zotac MAG is the perfect mini PC, with only one defect. It doesn't come with an operating system (OS). The choice was left up to the end user to pick which OS he or she wants on the device. Otherwise, it's a perfect mini PC for the price.

The product mentioned in this article was provided courtesy of Royale Computers and Accessories; telephone 906-1067, 906-1068 and 754-5048.