VeryPC Nano Sketch Core i7 review

The Nano Sketch has a huge amount of storage. Its Western Digital WD1001X06X-0SCSI hybrid drive contains a 1TB hard disk combined with a 120GB SSD in the same case, giving you plenty of space for your files and a fast system disk. The boot SSD helps immensely with boot times; the Nano Sketch boots from off into a usable desktop in an average of just 12 seconds. This is almost twice as quick as Scan’s NUC N16, so you can get to work incredibly quickly. However, unlike the NUC 16, with its SSD hybrid drive, you have separate disks for the operating system and for your files, which means you can reinstall Windows without wiping your files but have slightly more fiddly file management.

Should you want to customise the Nano Sketch, only the memory and 2.5in hard disk are accessible. Few people will want to upgrade, though, as the Nano Sketch already has plenty of RAM and a large hard disk. There is a spare mSATA connector, so you could replace the hard disk/SSD combo with a larger standard hard disk and still have space for a tiny mSATA SSD for your operating system.

The VeryPC Nano Sketch is a great-looking mini PC with fairly strong performance and plenty of storage, but at £1,079, it’s just far too expensive. At this price, you’d be better off getting the bulkier Chillblast Fusion Vacuum Mini 3, which is twice as fast and has vastly superior graphics performance. Otherwise the Best Buy-winning Scan 3XS NUC N16 is just as powerful, half the price and half the size.