This is Not a Toy - The Minix Neo Z83-4 mini computer

Ok. So I know it’s not Android. But I’m excited about this one and, hey, a guy can broaden his outlook.

This is the Minix Neo Z83-4 mini computer.

At first glance, you’d think you were looking at another in the endless series of Android set top boxes. But this is no toy. This is a full performance Windows 10 PC, with the Intel Quad Core “Cherry Trail” processor and 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, all in a package that you can hold in the palm of your hand. Build quality is stellar with a solid, premium feel to the thick plastic enclosure and metal bottom.

At setup, the gigabit Ethernet port or 802.11 AC dual-band Wi-Fi will have you surfing the net in no time. Productivity applications like Microsoft Office run flawlessly. A standard USB keyboard and mouse turn this tiny box into a fully fledged desktop computer, indistinguishable from the bulky towers of old. This is what the desktop of the future looks like, folks. And the design team at Minix has this mighty mite running cool enough to dissipate heat without a fan. That’s right; this is a computer you’ll never hear running and, with both HDMI and mini-monitor jacks, you can hook up dual monitors to make this a real multi-tasking beast.

The device has integrated Intel Graphics and casual games from the Windows Store (to which you have full access) show absolutely no signs of struggle. Let’s face it, you’re not buying this to be a gaming PC, and it’s not meant to be one. Throwing the latest hardware-hungry behemoth game at this thing would not be advisable. But I wouldn’t be afraid of anything you’d run on a high-end tablet or Android box.

As a Home Theater PC, the device really shines. Plug in an air mouse (or a FLIRC, combined with your Logitech Universal remote) and you can lean back in your chair and enjoy streaming at its finest. The 4 GB of RAM means streams will never stutter (assuming your ISP can keep up). You can download Kodi directly from the Windows store and it runs beautifully, even using heavier builds. The 32 GB of onboard Flash storage may not seem like much (this is the maximum Microsoft allows for this type of device, even with this full Windows license), but pop in a micro SD card or plug a USB Flash, solid state, or hard drive into one of the 4 USB ports (3x 2.0 and 1x 3.0) and storage becomes an all-you-can- eat proposition.

Look, this is not going to replace your kajillion-dollar, 40-pound, water-cooled gaming rig with the neon lights and built-in cappuccino machine. But if you’re looking for a reliable Windows 10 box that’s completely silent, productive as heck, and fits in a jacket pocket, the Minix Neo Z83-4 mini computer is well worth a look at this surprisingly low price point.