To help us provide you with free impartial advice, we may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site. Learn more

Asus VivoPC compact desktop set to take on Apple Mac Mini

Asus has revealed the VivoPC, a compact desktop PC in the vein of Apple's Mac Mini, at its Computex press conference

Asus didn’t forget the humble PC during a Computex press conference filled with laptop, tablet and smartphone announcements – it revealed the VivoPC, a compact HTPC designed to take on the might of Apple’s Mac Mini.

The tiny brushed metal machine steals the concentric circle design from the Asus mobile range, and at just 190x190x36.2mm, it could fit just about anywhere in a home office or as part of an entertainment system. The slightly oblong chassis vents air downwards and out of the case, but from the top or sides it’s almost impossible to see the black plastic – giving the impression the silver unit is floating, and half its actual size.

Asus VivoPC

Connectivity is excellent, despite the small dimensions, with two USB3 ports, four USB ports and an SD card slot, along with VGA and HDMI video outputs. You’ll also find an optical audio output and three 3.5mm audio jacks, which will support up to 7.1 surround sound channels.

Asus VivoPC

Internally, there’s room for a 2.5 or 3.5in disk drive, along with an as-yet unconfirmed Intel 4th Generation Core processor and Intel HD graphics. It has been designed with upgrades in mind, letting you quickly access the SATA bay and RAM slots by pressing a quick-release switch on the back of the unit.

Asus VivoPC

As it’s designed primarily for streaming HD video around the house, you’ll find an 802.11ac-compatible wireless card inside, letting you get significantly faster wireless speeds if you have an ac-ready router.

Asus expects the VivoPC to go on sale in Q3 globally, but has yet to reveal a price. If we can get a company representative to cave in and tell us before the week is out, we’ll be sure to bring you the details.

Read more

News