Small desktop for child

clv101 · 15 Jul 2020 at 21:07

Looking for a small system to be used as a 'family' (basically for the child) system.

My wife and I have been exclusively on MacBook Pros (+a recent Chromebook) for over a decade, haven't used a desktop machine (or Windows) in that long.

First thought was the new Mac Mini - but they really do seem overpriced. So what other SFF systems are around? From Intel, Dell, Lenovo etc? I guess budget is around £500 give or take. Doesn't need fancy GFX, but are external graphics cards a thing now?

What's Windows like these days? A decade ago it was pretty hopeless compared to OS X and I never looked back. Have things improved?

Or what about Linux? This system will be mostly used by a 5 yr old.

MrRockliffe · 15 Jul 2020 at 21:16

Emlyn_Dewar · 16 Jul 2020 at 04:01

ASRock deskmini with an APU.
Not sure what UK prices are on Intel NUCs, the NUC8i5BEH and thinner version are pretty decent. I'd pick one of these over a NUC10.

Lartyconshayo · 16 Jul 2020 at 07:52

Or a brix ?

mid_gen · 16 Jul 2020 at 15:14

The Asrock deskmini with an AMD APU 3200/3400G would be ideal, but the Asrock is a pain to get hold of atm.

jrwagh333 · 16 Jul 2020 at 17:56

Depends what you want to do. If you just want it for a browser and stuff then a Pi will do

david25 · 16 Jul 2020 at 19:20

How about:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/lenovo-m720q-what-a-machine.18887526/

Sparx · 18 Jul 2020 at 14:39

ASUS just released the PN50 mini PCs. They need a M.2 drive and RAM, but fit in your budget as they start at £274.98 for the base model (uses Ryzen 4300U cpu).

clv101 · 20 Jul 2020 at 23:35

Sparx said:
ASUS just released the PN50 mini PCs. They need a M.2 drive and RAM, but fit in your budget as they start at £274.98 for the base model (uses Ryzen 4300U cpu).

Thanks, looks interesting. Should be able to stretch the Ryzen 7 4700U version. Ha, haven't owned an AMD CPU since a 1GHz AXIA Thunderbird bought from this very shop best part of 20 years ago!

Seems there's lots of decent choice for this kind of system.

Looking like the bigger question will be Windows vs Linux.

Sparx · 21 Jul 2020 at 00:09

W10 is brilliant, so much better than 7 and 8 was. You can get a W10 key from the auction site for £5.

Personally as do millions others around the world, find it much more user friendly and compatible than Linux and of course a lot cheaper than Macs.

Don’t forget with those new Asus PN50s you need to add RAM and an NVMe drive, so factor in that cost. 16GB 3200mhz ram kit about £60. Then 500gb NVMe another £60 for example.

jrwagh333 · 28 Jul 2020 at 11:34

Windows is beyond rubbish. I switch full time to Linux 18 months ago - I had no previous Linux experience and I'm so much happier.

Hawk Tuah · 28 Jul 2020 at 11:42

Sparx said:
W10 is brilliant, so much better than 7 and 8 was.

jrwagh333 said:
Windows is beyond rubbish.

Internet forums are so helpful.

Sparx · 28 Jul 2020 at 11:56

Haha - different strokes for different folks.

Few tens of million more users in the world happily using Windows... Soooo

jrwagh333 · 28 Jul 2020 at 15:46

Sparx said:
Haha - different strokes for different folks.

Few tens of million more users in the world happily using Windows... Soooo

Because they know no better

Sparx · 28 Jul 2020 at 15:48

jrwagh333 said:
Because they know no better

Or they like having all of their games and software they're comfortable with just work. The majority of the world develops games and software for Windows the majority of the time.

Nothing wrong with Linux, it's a great OS and I like playing with it in VMs. But it's for people with either complicated requirements, or very little/basic requirements IMO, no.

But people who have very little/basic requirements, would usually get comfortable with Windows. Hence it's market share... You can't deny

jrwagh333 · 28 Jul 2020 at 15:58

I play all of my games on Linux no problem.

CSGO
Witcher 3
C&C Remastered
Tomb Raider series

Hawk Tuah · 28 Jul 2020 at 16:09

Linux, and that list of games are ideal for a 5 year old. :rolleyes:

sudo chrome /u youtubekids.com /v "peppa pig" /p /a

Perfect.

Petrolhead · 6 Oct 2020 at 07:33

clv101 said:
Looking for a small system to be used as a 'family' (basically for the child) system.

My wife and I have been exclusively on MacBook Pros (+a recent Chromebook) for over a decade, haven't used a desktop machine (or Windows) in that long.

First thought was the new Mac Mini - but they really do seem overpriced. So what other SFF systems are around? From Intel, Dell, Lenovo etc? I guess budget is around £500 give or take. Doesn't need fancy GFX, but are external graphics cards a thing now?

What's Windows like these days? A decade ago it was pretty hopeless compared to OS X and I never looked back. Have things improved?

Or what about Linux? This system will be mostly used by a 5 yr old.

out of interest how do you find the chromebook

bimbleuk · 6 Oct 2020 at 08:05

If you're unsure you even want Windows why not buy a HP/Dell SFF desktop off an auction site just to see how you get on with it. Should cost less than £100 for the base unit and usually they are already pre-activated with Windows 10.