Asus Business Hub

5 business benefits of buying commercial mini PCs

One of the strengths of the PC as a platform has always been its flexibility and modular design, allowing different components to be slotted together in almost any configuration. However, while the DIY nature of desktop PCs is great for consumers, it does pose challenges for businesses that need guaranteed reliability, stable supply and a high level of service. These things aren’t assured when mixing and matching components from multiple vendors.

Major brands have significant advantages in these areas, as the scale and sophistication of their material supply chains and production processes cannot be matched by smaller brands. This allows for more rigorous testing and better long-term product stability. Here are five reasons why buying commercial mini PCs from a major brand manufacturer is a smart choice for businesses. 1. On-site service warranty Businesses rely on their computer equipment, even if it’s just for office productivity. For example, there are already 135 million business users of Office 365 as of Q3 FY18¹ – which means that equipment failures can lead to significant lost revenue. Business PCs from major brands offer next business-day on-site service warranties to ensure downtime is kept to a minimum. The same is unlikely to be true of clone PC brands. 2. Industry-standard reliability testing Reliability is a key requirement for any business IT hardware. The good news is that a quality business mini PC will have undergone rigorous reliability testing, including noise, vibration, drop and thermal shock tests. This ensures that they meet exacting standards, or in the case of ASUS mini PCs, actually exceed industry requirements. The same is not necessarily true of clone PC brands, so check carefully before buying. 3. Low noise and energy efficient If you’ve ever had to put up with a desktop PC droning away next to your ear while you work, you’ll understand how distracting computer fan noise can be. Multiply that by tens or even hundreds of PCs, and your office can sound like a 1930s typing pool, and use more energy than the Brighton Illuminations. Commercial mini PCs, such as the ASUS PB60, is 30% quieter than a normal desktop and consumes less than 12W at idle, which means a quieter working environment and dramatically lower business energy costs too.

4. SMB-oriented design A consequence of the growing PC gaming market is that many third-party PCs have a distinctly ‘gamer-y’ aesthetic. Business mini PCs should be understated yet stylish, and focus on delivering the performance and features that SMBs and SMEs need. This includes a comprehensive range of I/O ports to support offices, kiosks, POS and other business environments. But they should also deliver security features, such as Kensington locks, chassis intrusion alerts, and the ability to configure read/write access to USB ports, to prevent theft of data or accidental malware infections from rogue USB drives. 5. Stable supply through corporate programs PC hardware product cycles are short, with multiple chipsets launched each year, as well as frequent updates to other components. This is a minefield for IT managers who need to plan their purchasing cycles and ensure they have a stable supply of their existing assets. Corporate programs, such as the ASUS Corporate Stable Model (CSM), guarantee product lifecycles, and issue an Engineering Change Notice (ECN) before product revisions, an end-of-life (EOL) notice six months before a product’s EOL, and a Last Buy Order (LBO) three months prior to EOL. This allows your business to plan ahead and ensure it is ready for product transitions.