There's been a small deluge of mini PCs in the past few years following the success of the Mac mini, but HP Inc's new Elite Desk 800 G2 mini is one of the smallest and fastest we've seen yet.
Around the size of a paperback novel, the pre-production unit we saw packed in a 3.4GHz Intel Core i7 6700 dual core processor, 16GB of memory and a 7200rpm 2.5in hard disk. It sticks with Skylake integrated graphics, but this is more than powerful enough for running three monitors connected simultaneously via DisplayPort daisy-chaining.
The Elite Desk 800 G2 mini may be small, but getting to the interior is trivial thanks to the screwless slide-off casing. Alternatively, it can be locked tight if you're worried about component theft. This PC is VESA mount-compatible too, so you can attach it to the back of a suitable monitor or to the underside of a desk.
Most intriguingly of all are the optional stackable accessory boxes which sit neatly underneath the mini PC and connect to it via USB3. We saw two units a slimline MDisc-compatible DVD writer and a port replicator that supports legacy connections such as PS/2, serial and USB2.
The Elite Desk 800 G2 mini is similar to the Acer Revo Build consumer mini PC we saw at IFA, with the exception that HP's demonstration units actually worked. As with the Revo Build though, the British pricing and availability of the Elite Desk 800 G2 mini and its stackable accessory boxes remain up in the air. European customers will be able to buy the mini PC in November with prices starting at 399.
-
The Binance hack explainedNews Initial reports that a single compromised laptop was the cause of the Binance hack have been debunked by the crypto exchange firm
-
Lakeside Software taps Mark Benson to lead EMEA channel strategyNews The appointment comes as the digital employee experience (DEX) vendor looks to expand its partner ecosystem around the SysTrack platform
-
All hail the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 – the battery life king of compact laptopsReviews As a versatile and capable daily driver, HP's cheapest Snapdragon X2-powered compact OmniBook Ultra takes some beating
-
Googlebook: Everything you need to know about the new Gemini-powered laptop range – including pricing, performance specs, and release datesNews A new class of Gemini-powered laptops is here with the aim of fusing Android and Chrome
-
The HP Z4 G6i Workstation is a breathtaking colossus that will bring data center-grade performance to your desktopReviews This foray into the overcharged desktop workstation is an absolute triumph, despite the frankly ridiculous price tag
-
Your AI strategy has a paper problemSponsored How multifunction, AI-enabled printers earn their place at the table
-
The memory shortage is hitting PC sales hard, but vendor revenues are still growing at the expense of consumersNews AI-driven component shortages are hurting PC sales, but device vendors are recording solid revenue growth
-
The HP EliteBoard G1a is an elegant and innovative device that blueprints a new form of mobile workingReviews This year's most unusual enterprise device is a smart keyboard that threatens to disrupt the way you work
-
The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i offers peace of mind to paranoid professionals who crave mobile workingReviews Looking past the lack of a multi-core roar in its Lunar Lake chip, there's very little to complain about in this mobile and security-centric hybrid machine
-
The HP EliteBook 8 G1a 16 is a portable 16-inch machine that'll keep your sensitive data under lockdown – but there's a catchReviews This simple and stylish 16in AMD-powered machine can help you work with peace of mind in the office or on the move, so long as you don't need to run many heavy-duty workloads
