Does Size Matter? Velocity Micro Gains an Edge with its Mini PC

If you are in the market to buy the smallest PC possible, that is also fully operational, then you will want to check out the new Edge Mini by Velocity Micro. Boasting a compact size of 1.6 inches thick, and with a length and width that is 4 by 4 inches, Velocity Micro may be well within their legal right to market the Edge Mini as, "The world's smallest desktop."

Velocity Micro has crammed a lot of features into a little box, including a full Windows OS (you can choose between 7 or 8). This is an extraordinary feat considering that many new tablets cannot run full operating systems and have to use special versions that are stripped down. The hardware features are equally as impressive:

• Intel Core i3 processor with Intel HD 4000 Graphics
• 2GB of memory (upgradeable to 16GB)
• 2 HDMI out ports
• Wireless everything (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth)
• mSATA Drive Options (60-120GB)
• Gigabit LAN
• 3 USB 2.0 Ports

Starting at $599, the Edge Mini may not equal the computing power that you can get spending the same money on a full-sized desktop, but people considering the Edge Mini would be looking first foremost at size; in which case the Edge Mini impresses by packing a lot of value in a small package.

Velocity Micro is marketing the Edge Mini as a desktop, a small PC for digital signs and kiosks, and home entertainment. It looks like the Edge Mini might have an edge in the home entertainment arena. The Edge Mini offers a much more powerful option compared to streaming players Roku 2 XS and Apple TV which have been stripped down to perform one task. The Edge Mini also comes with VESA mounting brackets so that you can hook it up to the back of your TV or monitor, and has enough power and output components that it can be used to watch HD video on one monitor and surf the internet on the other.

One reason the Edge Mini can handle multitasking so well is because it uses an SSD drive that has been engineered with Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology. The Edge Mini also has the size and price advantage compared to other mini computers. The popular Mac Mini starts at $784 and is bigger at 1.4 by 7.7 by 7.7 inches (HWD).

What do you think? Does size matter? Is the Edge Mini small enough for you? Let us know in the comments!