# Just bought a magnificent little micro pc for $200 **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [March 3, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409 "2024-03-03T20:22:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/1 "2024-03-03T20:22:19Z")
This palm sized gem is replacing a 2014 large tower with Windows 10 on it. It is 3.5"x3.5"x1.5" in size. Can hang from the back of the monitor (includes the bracket). 512GB SSD and 16GB of Ram. 3 HDMI (which I need for 3 monitors, 2 are TVs) 3 USB 3.0 though I could use at least 1 more for flexibility. I may end up with a splitter for the mouse & keyboard. 2 Lan Adapters which surprised me and Wifi of course. Even has Win 11 Pro instead of home. It is so much faster than the PC it is replacing, it is insane. The SSD is a huge part of the speed though. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/2 "2024-03-03T20:28:40Z")
Linky, please? With the right software, this could be a terrific streamer and video player! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/3 "2024-03-03T20:42:33Z")
Lots of USB hubs to be found out there. That can solve your minor USB problem easily. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/4 "2024-03-03T20:43:53Z")
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKSGFPKG?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKSGFPKG?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) If you decide to buy it, make sure to check of the $100 coupon. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Lots of USB hubs to be found out there. That can solve your minor USB problem easily. Indeed, that was my plan. Something that works well for USB 3.0 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/5 "2024-03-03T20:52:38Z")
Thank you. Sadly, as often happens, that’s on Amazon-dot-com (USA) and although some items ship to Canada, this one does not. But a search for “mini PC” on amazon.ca turns up all sorts of similar products in a wide variety of price ranges, so I may opt for one of those. I must admit, though, that a $100 saving on a $300 item that is already a marvel of technological value is a pretty good deal! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/6 "2024-03-03T20:57:31Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Thank you. Sadly, as often happens, that’s on Amazon-dot-com (USA) and although some items ship to Canada, this one does not. Are you close to a US border? If so, you might consider shipping to an Amazon drop box in the US near the border and then going to collect the item. Might be worth it for some more pricey items if you are not too far away and don’t mind a drive. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/7 "2024-03-03T21:38:28Z")
Here’s one with the same CPU that has a teeny tiny monitor. [https://www.amazon.com/Acemagic-Lake-N97-Computer-512GB-Desktop/dp/B0CNCGTLHL/](https://www.amazon.com/Acemagic-Lake-N97-Computer-512GB-Desktop/dp/B0CNCGTLHL/) ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/8 "2024-03-03T22:36:51Z")
I have had good results with those Intel NUCs. However, they are now being manufactured and developed by ASUS; haven’t tried the ASUS ones yet. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/9 "2024-03-04T00:53:07Z")
Note that some of these cheapo boxes have been found to be infected with malware from the maker. It requires skill to remove the malware since it’s also on the restore image. In some cases it is hooked into the BIOS and basically can’t be removed. Checking, I see no reports of the Blackview device having _known_ malware on it. (Some of their tablets from a few years ago did have malware.) Some models by AceMagics have been recently [found](https://the-gadgeteer.com/2024/02/08/mini-pcs-big-risks-malware-found-on-2-machines-we-recently-reviewed/) to be infected. Given the sophistication of malware-makers, just because a scan comes back clean doesn’t mean that there isn’t malware on it that won’t be discovered for several years, if ever. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/10 "2024-03-04T00:56:50Z")
Damn, that’s some sick shit. Thankfully this machine is to support table top D&D or play music, so nothing vital on it at all. I’ll run malwarebytes on it tomorrow, it passed the Microsoft check today. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/11 "2024-03-04T01:17:10Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It requires skill to remove the malware since it’s also on the restore image. In some cases it is hooked into the BIOS and basically can’t be removed. I’d do a complete new install of Windows downloaded from Microsoft to a USB thumb drive. Be sure to preserve your Windows license key. These days it is super easy, just takes a little time. You can boot from the USB drive (might to have to noodle in the BIOS to get that to happen…easy but have to find it). It is especially easy when the PC is brand new and has nothing you can lose. Of course, if the malware is in the BIOS/UEFI then not sure what you can do. ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/12 "2024-03-04T05:58:16Z")
Thank you! Actually I had no idea something like this existed. Sort of half-shopping around for a new notebook computer, but for use at home, this could be just the thing. Roll one’s own displays, however one desires, add a nice mechanical keyboard, to taste. Certainly a bargain deal with more than adequate power for my uses, even including some newer peripherals. It would be nice if it could be powered by USB-C, for easier power supply in the event of shorter power outages, if one lacks an AC backup bank or another more comprehensive backup system, but this kind of format and device displays great promise. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/13 "2024-03-04T06:06:05Z")
> [@ColdBrew50](#): > > Sort of half-shopping around for a new notebook computer This really is a tablet computer but without the screen and in a different form factor. It will do the same work as a tablet can. Which is why it is so inexpensive. No battery. No screen. ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/14 "2024-03-04T06:08:36Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > This really is a tablet computer but without the screen and in a different form factor. It will do the same work as a tablet can. Exactly! With more extensible options in the way of peripherals, and multiple designs in this form factor seem to boast highly accessible routes to upgrading internals, just like an average desktop computer. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/15 "2024-03-04T06:13:53Z")
At one time there were attempts at full PCs entirely within their own wall wart. > **[Quanta Compute Plug—a computer the size and shape of an AC adapter](https://techxplore.com/news/2015-06-quanta-pluga-size-ac.html)** > > One of the biggest IT trade shows in Asia is going on right now in Taipei in Taiwan and one of the products being shown is grabbing a lot of attention—the Quanta Compute Plug—a complete computer that is the size and shape of an AC adapter. Initial... ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/16 "2024-03-04T06:19:30Z")
Cell phones are no bigger than those (different shape). SOCs are all the rage now. We can and do that stuff well right now. The need for a big box PC comes when you are AAA gaming or running professional apps like video editing or CAD programs and such. For email and browsing and YouTube and light programs like desktop D&D these small computers are more than enough and do a great job. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-bought-a-magnificent-little-micro-pc-for-200/998409/17 "2024-03-05T16:18:50Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Thankfully this machine is to support table top D&D or play music, so nothing vital on it at all. > > I’ll run malwarebytes on it tomorrow, it passed the Microsoft check today. 1. If the device is connected to a network, then the malware can do all sorts of bad things. Infect other devices on the local network, become a spam bot, etc. 2. As I noted in my post, a clean scan doesn’t mean that there is no malware on it. It just means that there is no _known_ malware on it. Sometimes it takes quite a few years for high quality malware to be discovered. China has gotten incredibly serious about getting high quality malware onto as many Western devices as possible.