Mini PC Advice

Hello,

We first need to clarify the terminology ;-)

A mini PC is generally a square box measuring 15cm x 15cm, see: https://www.commentcamarche.net/informatique/ordinateurs/31623-des-mini-pc-a-tout-petits-prix-chez-geekbuying/ or https://www.geekom.fr/

A PC with a built-in screen is called an all-in-one.

Mini PCs are designed to support multiple connected displays, sometimes 3 or 4.

Yes, okay, but having multiple screens is not necessarily what I'm looking for. You can also connect a screen to all-in-one PCs.

I'm interested in the all-in-one for its practicality with the integrated screen. My question is rather, is it reliable over time? Is there a risk of overheating? Etc.... or is it better to opt for a mini PC? Or should I stick to a classic laptop?

All-in-one computers, which are open at the back, should run cooler than a traditional laptop, which often has air vents underneath.

In fact, it all comes down to how you use it. An all-in-one is used exclusively on a desk, while a laptop, as its name suggests, is more mobile. It's up to you to consider what you do with your laptop today; does it ever leave the desk?

A mini PC used in a standard way is like a desktop PC, or even an all-in-one PC. The mini PC can be more powerful and have more connectors than an all-in-one.

You can even turn a mini PC into an all-in-one by mounting its small case behind a traditional display.

Hello

I will add my opinion to jee pee's analysis (whom I salute).

My PC is primarily used for development (website, software, application); I don't use it for gaming.

If the usage is professional, you should clearly forget all-in-ones, which are rarely suitable, always fragile, and often irreparable.

A mini PC... why not, but for equivalent performance, a PC with a conventional case will be cheaper and more durable since mini PC formats are often proprietary (to the manufacturer).

A laptop, like the professional ranges from HP or Dell, is also a completely interesting choice.

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Waiting for more responses; I'm attracting trolls....

"An all-in-one is used exclusively on a desk"

Thank you for your feedback. I would like to avoid going back to a laptop; the goal is to have something smaller. That's why I was interested in the mini PC.

As for the all-in-one, you say it's only used on a desk. We must not be talking about the same thing; what I'm referring to is the size of a tablet but is a little thicker:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61SynlEwe8L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

This allows me to take it to work and connect it via HDMI. I can also connect it to a portable screen when I'm at home.

The little extra feature of the all-in-one is the built-in screen.

It's true that replacing parts is very complicated, but laptops are becoming increasingly similar. When I see mine, which is 10 years old, you already have to dismantle everything to access the RAM and the hard drive.

I would call it an industrial tablet, used in warehouses and factories.

Why not simply look at regular tablets, which are lighter and thinner?

Or 12 or 14-inch 2-in-1 PCs, meaning a laptop whose keyboard rotates 360°, turning it into a slightly thick tablet. It can also be a laptop with a detachable keyboard, like Microsoft's Surface.

@Ju2235 StatusMember

Yes, so here we are looking at a touch lightweight client solution, this type of equipment as Jee pee says, is found in the industry or logistics companies, etc.

This is completely inappropriate for the use you are describing.

Hello,

I have an HP mini PC that has been running for a long time.
To promote cooling, I elevated it by 8 mm using four rubber pads, and I removed a good percentage of the grilles while keeping the mesh (dust filter).

Because the air intake is from the bottom (with the exhaust on the disk side).

That's exactly what I was talking about, the industrial tablet! But indeed, I don't think it's the solution.

Currently at work, we have mini PCs that are on 24/7, and it's true that they don't heat up that much. All the mini PCs are connected to a server.

I was doing some research online, and indeed I think that's what I need. The best alternative would be to keep my current laptop and have a mini PC alongside.

I can't use the work PC as I wish because it is protected to prevent the installation of software and browsing the internet.

So I think connecting a mini PC to my work screen might be the solution.

We'll see if a budget mini PC can suffice for the use of my development software.

(I know about software development, but hardware isn't my field ^^)

I always have a hard time imagining what you're looking for. For power, you need to check what your software requires. Because there are even more compact solutions, the PC On A Stick. Which you can plug directly into the HDMI port of a screen:

https://www.amazon.fr/HEIGAOLAPC-Windows-Ventilateur-Ethernet-Bluetooth/dp/B0C6X1TK98/
https://www.amazon.fr/MeLE-PCG02-N4000-4Go-128Go/dp/B0C6GSWY6F/
https://www.amazon.fr/Mele-Ventilateur-PCG02-Portable-Industriel/dp/B0CX562J15/

And since you're mentioning security, are you allowed to connect a third-party device to your work?

I don’t think I need much power. My current laptop is beyond what I require.

I also don’t really know what I’m looking for ^^ I know I’d like something smaller than a laptop but still practical. It’s not meant to necessarily replace my laptop, but rather to serve as an alternative for my work.

As for security, no, I’m not allowed to plug anything into the mini PCs. I occasionally do so with a USB stick to retrieve documents.

Currently, I bring my laptop which I connect via HDMI to the screen. If I can have the equivalent in a small box, that could be the solution.

If I decide to get a fairly powerful mini PC, equivalent to my laptop, I could consider getting a portable screen (for my use at home), which would eliminate the need to transfer my files between the two PCs every time.