Buying Best Mini PCs in 2018 Strong But Compact WorkstationsGone are the days you’d need to use a full-sized desktop that occupies a large portion of your desk space. Thanks to their compact footprint, simple maintenance and fairly powerful components, mini PCs now take the desktop world by storm. This also makes them great options for office PCs on media servers, or even for proper gaming setups. There are certain important considerations to be made given the size and form factor of a mini PC. First, it’s important to decide what kind of workflow you’re going to do that will help you narrow down on the OS. If macOS is your cup of tea then the Apple Mac Mini is your only choice. Windows users can choose from a wide range of configurations and prices and so do Linux users. However, due to lack of drivers some mini PC hardware does not support Linux in particular so this should be kept in mind. The next big factor is computing power. Mini PCs are small form factor PCs that automatically come with certain limitations on what kind of CPUs and GPUs with them can be equipped. Most mini PCs have integrated graphics but there are quite a few mini PCs with the option to have powerful dedicated GPUs as well. If you intend to use the mini PC for gaming or GPU-intensive work, this is significant. Remember that the compact shape factor means an improved under-load thermal efficiency which can cause throttling. RAM comes next, then safety. So long as you don’t solder the RAM and storage you should be fine. But some mini PCs like the Apple Mac Mini have soldered components so you need to decide on the configuration in advance as there is almost no future path to upgrade. Even if the mini PC can be upgraded the small size means that it is not very easy to access components and will require some workarounds. Therefore it is best to agree on sufficient RAM and storage to avoid the hassle before buying itself. It can be a daunting task, with so many variables to consider narrowing down on a mini PC. But that is where we are coming in. At TechNadu we did the homework to choose the best mini PCs on the market so you don’t have to. Hereby we present to you the 8 best mini PCs available in 2018 that meet all work requirements. 1. Apple Mac Mini (2018)
Product “3/3.402.jpg” Apple Mac Mini (2018) Specs: Intel 8th gen Core i5 8 GB DDR4 RAM 256 GB SSD Ports: 1x Ethernet 4x Thunderbolt 3 1x HDMI 2.0 2x USB 3.0 3.5 mm headphone jack Dimensions (W x H x D): 7.7 x 1.4 x 7.7 in $1099.00 ? $100.00 $999.00 Apple has just updated the Mac Mini device and made it worthwhile even for Pr. The Mac Mini can be optimized for quicker DDR4 RAM up to 64 GB and powerful SSD storage up to 2 TB with a choice of Intel’s new 8th gen Core processors. Notwithstanding the new hardware the total footprint has stayed the same. The new Mac Mini also comes with the Apple T2 chip, which offers enhanced security boot for macOS and on – the-fly encryption of storage devices. Connectivity options are well-downloaded, and you can also configure the Mac Mini with a 10 Gbps Ethernet port if required. The Mac Mini can also be connected to an eGPU with four Thunderbolt 3 ports onboard for enhanced graphics horsepower. While the Mac Mini is a great mini PC you’d need to weigh and configure your requirements before ordering, as most components are soldered and not upgradable. You can try to upgrade the RAM but accessing it would require the mini PC to be completely dismantled so we would advise against it unless you know what you are doing. Cons: Hard to upgrade later on manually
2. Intel Hades Canyon NUC
“3/3.403.jpg” Mini PCs with the width of connectivity options like the Intel Hades Canyon are difficult to find. To hook up a great home theater system, you get ports for basically everything including a TOSLINK port. While the Hades Canyon mini PC makes a big investment, there are some restrictions on the type of tasks that you can perform due to its small frame. If you push it too far, you might experience thermal throttling, but for most apps and games, including heavy duty ones like Photoshop Premiere or Illustrator, it should work fine. Notice, however, that there is a software flaw that prevents Linux from being installed so that if you want to go the Ubuntu road, it will be fixed. Pros: Strong specs in a compact body Good networking options Cons: potential thwarts under heavy load Design may not appeal to everyone Not fully compatible with Linux while using
3 RAID mode. HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Offer “3/3.404.jpg” HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Specs: Intel 7th gen Core i5-7500 T 8 GB DDR4 RAM 256 GB SSD GPU: Intel HD Graphics 630 Ports: 3x USB 3.0 1x USB Type-C 1x Ethernet 2x DisplayPort 1x D-Sub 3x USB 2.0 3.5 mm headphone jack 3.5 mm mic-in $879.00?$241.01$637.99 Fits the bill EliteDesk 800 G3 for a great mini PC for business. The 800 G3 features an Intel 7th gen Core i5-7500 T along with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. RAM and SSD can be upgraded to allow you to choose the lowest budget model and consider upgrading later. All standard connectivity options are available so you can get started to work immediately. HP also provides a privacy and security software suite that helps protect your data from ransomware and keeps the mini PC up to date. The HP EliteDesk 800 G3 is more targeted for business users like those who deal with MS Office or trading software. It is not a gaming machine and certainly not very suitable to run heavy programs like Photoshop or Premiere Pro. Some of the built-in applications might also not be very useful, so you might need to clean up the bloatware to avoid slowdowns. Pros: Small and strong enough to use commercially Cons: Bloatware can be less than 4. ASUS GR8 II-T069Z
“3/3.405.jpg” ASUS GR8 II-T069Z Specifications: Intel 7th gen Core i5-7400 16 GB DDR4 RAM 512 GB SSD Aura Sync RGB SupremeFX Audio Ports: 4x USB 3.0 1x USB 3.1 Type-C 1x USB 3.1 1x Ethernet 1x DisplayPort 2x HDMI 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1x S / PDIF out Dimensions (W x H x D): 11.77 x 11.77 x 11.777 in The answer to that is the ASUS GR8 II-T0695. This mini PC has the chops to play virtually all recent AAA games, while providing a PC’s maximum versatility to get the job done. Thanks to the copious amount of RAM and SSD storage, the Intel 7th Gen Core i5-7400 is more than enough for multitasking. The GR8 also comes with ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting, so all RGB peripherals can be kept in sync. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 enables even demanding games to be played at a medium settings of 1080p, and can also do VR. Thanks to the custom Realtek chip, the ASUS GR8 also boasts superb audio quality. For both gaming and office use the performance-wise ASUS GR8 will not disappoint. The mini PC is running super quietly and should be ok for 1080p gaming. Pros: Good performance Process QuietGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Ports: 3x USB 3.1 1x USB 3.1 Type-C 4x USB 2.0 1x Ethernet 1x DisplayPort 2x HDMI 1x DVI 2x VR 1x 3.5 mm line-out 1x 3.5 mm line-out 1x mic-in Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.63 x 9.15 x 11.77 in The MSI Trident 3 is one of the best gaming and VR mini PCs. The Trident 3 offers a versatile setup in a lightweight case, powered by the new Intel 8th gen Core i7 CPU 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU is coupled with 6 GB of dedicated VRAM that should be able to easily handle most games. The Trident 3 focuses on VR and as such offers a front-side VR port for easy VR headsets to be connected to. While the Trident 3 is a great mini PC for 1080p gaming, due to the midrange GPU, it is not really suitable for 4 K gaming yet. Due to its size the system runs fairly quiet and temperatures are kept under control thanks to the good cooling setup of MSI. The problem comes however when you try to upgrade it. Both parts can be updated but the motherboard has a power cap which means you will need to change most of the system if you want to upgrade. The default components are also not really overclockable because of the power limit, so you have to do with anything you get. Cons: Not upgrade-friendly Motherboard has power limitations that prevent Bloatware from overclocking
6. Zotac ZBox Magnus EK71080
“3/3.407.jpg” Specifications: Intel 7th gen Core i7-7700HQ 8 GB DDR4 RAM 120 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD Intel Optane ready GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ports: 1x USB 3.1 1x USB 3.1 Type C 4x USB 3.0 2x Ethernet 1x DisplayPort 1x HDMI 3x DisplayPort 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1x mic-in 1x SD card reader Dimensions (W x H x Featuring an upgradeable RAM and storage options for 45W Intel Core i7-7700HQ and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU, the ZBox Magnus can make anything you throw at it easy to work with, whether it’s Office AAA gaming at maximum settings or even VR. This mini PC is also ready for G-Sync which means you can pair it with a G-sync monitor capable of minimizing screen tearing in high-run games. Also, the ZBox provides Intel Optane memory option which can speed up access from traditional hard drives. Pros: Good hardware Constructed for gaming and VR Great connectivity Cons: not very easy to update Hot runs Frequent Wi-Fi drops
7. Lenovo ThinkCenter M910q
Lenovo ThinkCenter M910q Specs: Intel 7th gen Core i7-7700 T 8 GB DDR4 RAM 256 GB SSD GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620 Ports: 6x USB 3.0 1x Ethernet 2x DisplayPort 2x Punch Out 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1x mic Dimensions (W x H x D): 1.36 x 7.05 x 7.20 in
“3/3.409.jpg” Now Chrome OS supports Android apps and makes this mini PC even more versatile. Connectivity options are abundant and this mini PC can handle multiple browser tabs with ease and stream 4 K video without problems. However, Chrome OS is very limited in what it can do, but the Acer CXI3 Chromebox definitely deserves consideration if your work is primarily online. You can also install a Linux distro right from Chrome OS if you’re geeky enough to get any additional features missing from it. Pros: Most powerful Chrome OS PC Good connectivity options
Final Thoughts
Dear reader, those were our picks for 2018’s best mini PCs. Such mini PCs are useful in saving space while working well for the majority of tasks. The only drawbacks with mini PCs are the size of the case and its upgradability. If you can work within those limits, then mini PCs are the way to go instead of creating a full-blown ATX desktop. We hope this article helped you decide on a good mini PC. As always please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to suggest what other laptops we should include and we will get back to you as soon as possible. How to watch ‘ Nickelodeon ‘ ‘ Nick Jr. ‘ ‘ Nicktoons ‘ and ‘ TeenNick ‘ Online
ByGabriela Vatu-January 15, 2020 ‘ 3/3.410.png ‘ We all grew up watching a ton of cartoons and children do the same thing today, but they simply have a more diverse selection of networks that deliver content to all age groups. We love to watch Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. Online, Nicktoons and TeenNick so we think you should be able to do the same. Nickelodeon has been around in the U.S. since 1977 and it has grown to have much more sister channels like Nick Jr. focusing on the younger Nicktoons or TeenNick kids. The content varies from network to network but they do feature a lot of shows that over the years we have come to love that is pretty awesome.
How do I view Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons Online, and TeenNick?
We like to be as flexible as possible in today’s world including when it comes to watching the content we love. So if you drive with the kids or spend hours waiting for some appointments then you want to be able to offer the kids something to do without rushing around the office. Watching TV online, for example, is a great option and it is something we should all do nowadays because it gives us a lot more freedom of movement. One of the best platforms for looking at Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons and TeenNick is now fuboTVStart your free 7-day trial on fuboTV! You’ll find that Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. are available in the fubo Standard main bundle while Nicktoons and TeenNick are in the fubo Extra channel pack. One of the cool things about fuboTV is that it’s available for a ton of platforms including Apple TV Android TV Fire TV Chromecast Roku, iOS and Android phones and tablets and more. (Click here to learn precisely what you need to do to get this job done.)ByGabriela Vatu-January 15, 2020 ‘ 3/3.410.png ‘ We all grew up watching a ton of cartoons and children do the same thing today, but they simply have a more diverse selection of networks that deliver content to all age groups. We love to watch Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. Online, Nicktoons and TeenNick so we think you should be able to do the same. Nickelodeon has been around in the U.S. since 1977 and it has grown to have much more sister channels like Nick Jr. focusing on the younger Nicktoons or TeenNick kids. The content varies from network to network but they do feature a lot of shows that over the years we have come to love that is pretty awesome.
How do I view Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons Online, and TeenNick?
We like to be as flexible as possible in today’s world including when it comes to watching the content we love. So if you drive with the kids or spend hours waiting for some appointments then you want to be able to offer the kids something to do without rushing around the office. Watching TV online, for example, is a great option and it is something we should all do nowadays because it gives us a lot more freedom of movement. One of the best platforms for looking at Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons and TeenNick is now fuboTVStart your free 7-day trial on fuboTV! You’ll find that Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. are available in the fubo Standard main bundle while Nicktoons and TeenNick are in the fubo Extra channel pack. One of the cool things about fuboTV is that it’s available for a ton of platforms including Apple TV Android TV Fire TV Chromecast Roku, iOS and Android phones and tablets and more. (Click here to learn precisely what you need to do to get this job done.)Other Ways of Viewing Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons and TeenNick
Sling TVStart your 1st month Sling TV subscription by saving money! There are quite a few differences between the bundles in the sense that each of them provides a certain number of simultaneous streams for subscribers to enjoy. Orange subscribers, for example, can only watch on one screen at a time, while Blue subscribers can watch on up to three. Orange + Blue users get four streams simultaneously for the entire family. There are also a lot of channel packs, and you can add premium networks to your package if you want to. Start your free 7-day trial on Philo now! There are no additional channel packs and no premium networks and there are no add-ons as well so there is no way to expand the features of the platform. It is also worth mentioning that Philo is super-cheap to subscribe.
If you’re traveling outside the U.S., there are some limits to what you can do because live TV channels and streaming services are all geo-blocked, meaning you won’t be able to access them until you leave the USA. This may be quite annoying but it’s something you can easily bypass by using a VPN that can change your IP address in just a few moments. We would suggest using ExpressVPN which is one of the best on the market today with thousands of servers worldwide and strong security and privacy features to keep your data secure. Here’s how to set up ExpressVPN so you can stream Nickelodeon channels wherever you go: subscribe to ExpressVPN (49 percent OFF) which is something you can do in just a couple of minutes after you visit their website and create an account. ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee policy so you can always ask for a refund if the app is incorrect or you just don’t use it sufficiently. Look for a server in the U.S., and connect with it. You can go ahead and launch fuboTV when the link has been created, so you can watch Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons and TeenNick anywhere you want to go.
Can I try out Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nicktoons on the Network’s website and TeenNick?
What content on Nickelodeon Nick Jr should you watch. And Nicktoons and TeenNick?
These channels have some of the coolest shows on the market today and, if you subscribe to the right platform, you can watch them all online. Here are some of the shows on the Nickelodeon channels that you can watch: SpongeBob SquarePants Bubble Guppies PAW Patrol Blue’s Clues You Power Rangers Team Umzoomi Jurisdiction Germany (EU/14 Eyes Alliance). Logs Collect some data which is anonymised. Server numbers Parallel links 5 AES 256-bit encryption standards OpenVPN IKEv2 L2TP / IPSec. Speed Reduction P2P Sustain YES (copyrighted content is prohibited). Live Chat support NO Supported Price Platforms Starting at $1.75 per month. Get ZenMate VPN We will start with our next chapter, with the basic information out of our way. We test each VPN with media streaming platforms especially for their website unblocking capabilities. The table below will tell you how ZenMate ranks in terms of unblocking certain websites. Media streaming support YES BBC iPlayer YES Hulu YESFully automated Unblocks Netflix Reliable performance Simple to install and use Nicely crafted UI Long-term, affordable plans. Cons Vague Privacy Policy Collects some anonymised customer support data Semi-helpful. Recently, in every imaginable aspect, the final verdict ZenMate has been improved-but there are still a few problematic points. We advise to combine itAd-Blocker Anti-Malware YES (ZenMate Web FireWall) Unlimited Server Switches YES Unlimited Bandwidth Unlimited Data YES zenMate provides DNS support when it comes to protecting you from data leaks. And your IPv6 traffic will also be protected but note that you will need to manually disable IPv6. That’s what many VPNs do, and
ZenMate uses 128-bit AES for its Web browser extensions as regards encryption. Nevertheless, its native apps come with higher encryption rates-AES-256 bit. These days the industry standard is considered to be this. ZenMate also comes with a variety of VPN protocols according to your platform. It provides IKEv2 and L2TP for its Windows Server. And it comes with IKEv2, on macOS. Often involved is OpenVPN which is perhaps the most efficient VPN protocol at the moment. All in all, ZenMate is fully packed with all the protection you’ll need. Obviously we will soon do a DNS leak check to see if all those protocols are watertight.
You’ll see statements when you visit this VPN website that they don’t collect your info. We know better than believing those statements, though, which is why we looked at his privacy policy closely. And this is where we have come across a lot of interesting details. ZenMate is capable of collecting information about your ISP and ‘ similar data and information ‘ related to your operating system Web browser dates and times of access to each website. This may sound alarming, but your username is not tied to any of this information. Such knowledge is confidential in other words, and is used for diagnostic purposes. After further research, we saw that when you register for a new account, ZenMate records your IP address. The reason or this is for avoiding any misuse of the services of this VPN. Their privacy policy also specifies that they will use your IP address to “investigate offenses committed.” As you can see, ZenMate VPN is really not a VPN with no-logs. And what’s more alarming comes with a very vague policy on privacy that leaves much to be desired. Although there are no reports of ZenMate using personal data for malicious purposes we can not recommend it to those who are looking for the highest level of anonymity online. DNS Leak Check
“3/3.425.jpg” No DNS leaks were found as can be seen from the above screenshot. Our IP address was kept hidden at all times and only third parties could see what ZenMate presented them.
“3/3.426.jpg” While ZenMate VPN isn’t the fastest out there, reliable and stable performance comes with it. Our Rating: 7.5/10. Next we get to test the efficiency of ZenMate. To this end, we will first test our Web connection speed without using this VPN. Then we will connect to both local and remote servers-which will warn us if there is any throttling as a result. “3/3.427.jpg” To establish the baseline data, we started with our ‘ naked ‘ Web connection. We got 147.80 Mbps for downloads on a speed test and 9.31 for uploads on that. Let’s start ZenMate now, and see what kind of performance it brings. “3/3.428.jpg” Figure 2 Performance of nearby VPN server ZenMate. We will start connecting to a nearby server just like we do in our every review. We are in Europe and ZenMate has decided to connect us to a server in one of our neighbours. We got 116.90 Mbps for downloads after a speed test, and 9.19 Mbps for uploads. “3/3.429.jpg” 9.31 Mbps 0 percent Nearby Server 116.90 Mbps 9.19 Mbps Remote Server 95.77 Mbps 6.87 Mbps 35.2 percent In conclusion we can say that ZenMate averaged 28 percent the speed of our Web connection. While this is not a terrible result, you can find VPNs that bring faster Web speeds without paying more. Customer Support
“3/3.430.jpg” There are ways to get help but there are half-baked support channels. You really need to be determined to get a timely solution to your problem. Our Rating: 5/10. When you pay for a service, you expect it to be 100 per cent of the time fully accessible. However, VPNs may from time to time face certain problems being highly technical solutions. That’s why you are going to want to know what kind of support you’re going to get. FAQ: The website of ZenMate includes several hundred questions that have been answered. These vary from specific questions about troubleshooting to those linked to payments. However without a clear categorization they appear to be scattered across the website. Support Tickets: There’s finally a way to send out an official inquiry. You can open a support ticket by completing a form (on the support page of the website), where you can explain your problem. Prepare to wait until 48 hours before receiving a response.
Pricing
ZenMate comes with highly affordable long-term plans which undermine the competition of some. Yet its monthly plan is far from accessible. Our Rating: 7/10. Just like other ZenMate VPNs on the market, there are several subscription plans that are offered. All of them come with the same set of features-the only difference is in duration and price. Total Price Savings per month65 percent 12 Months $21.00 $1.75 82 percent You can save up to 65 percent on ZenMate, saving up to 82 percent by choosing its 12 month plan. Please note, however, that only for the first year you will be charged $21.00 (which then goes up to $42.00 per year). Before you decide to get a subscription keep in mind that there is a cash-back period of 30 days that seems generous enough. When you change your mind you can apply to get your money back. Then then you can use PayPal credit cards then various other third party payment processors to pay for the subscription. As you can see cryptocurrencies are not supported.
Differentiating Free vs Paid
Free Subscription Paid Subscription Number of Locations 4 Locations All Locations 2 MB / s Firefox Chrome Opera Unlimited Speed Available Platforms No AES-128 AES-256 P2P / Torrent Support Not Available
Do We R
“3/3.432.jpg” After all that is said in this article it is obvious that ZenMate is a mixed bag. It has proven its ability to protect your data and even unblock Netflix. We can not recommend it to those who want to download torrents, however. Then then, there’s that ambiguous privacy policy that prohibits us from recommending it to users who are aware of their rights. CONS: Collects some high-priced monthly plan Limited Server network data. OUR SCORE: 7.5 From 10! In case you think this VPN could be a good pick for you don’t hesitate to take a closer look at ZenMate VPN. The link provided will take you to the official website of the VPN where you can check their pricing and more about its features. REVIEW OVERVIEW Background Jurisdiction Reputation5 Installation Initial Configuration10 Prominent Features8.5 Server Count8 Ease of Use9 Media Streaming Torrenting Support9 Speed Performance7.5 Customer Support5 Pricing7 SUMMARY It’s true that ZenMate VPN has come a long way during the past year. The latest available version looks very modern and comes with lots of interesting features, which are easy to use. However, you will still face some obstacles such as limited server network and non-helpful customer support for this VPN’s vague privacy policy. OVERAL SCORE