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There are a number of enterprise skilled computer systems on the market proper now. I’ve obtained a number of that I’m actively testing proper now on my desk, even. However most of these are designed for energy, for max output, or for computational prowess.
For some, a several-thousand-dollar powerhouse just isn’t what they want. For admins, entrance desk staff, information entry, or those that merely assist handle calendars and electronic mail by way of an online browser, they don’t want a giant machine, they only want one thing that may boot up shortly, function reliably, and get the job finished.
That’s the place the land of mini or compact PCs is available in. Smaller items that may plug into any monitor measurement, disguise away, and work as wanted. That’s precisely what an excellent chunk of the skilled workforce wants.
For that purpose, it is by no means going to high our record of the very best mini PCs we have examined. However when you’re a traditional enterprise skilled who doesn’t must max out their machine, this can be an incredible possibility to contemplate for workplace and residential workplace use.
(Picture credit score: Collin Probst // Future)
- Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC (256GB SSD) at Amazon for $778
Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Unboxing and First Impressions
(Picture credit score: Collin Probst // Future)
Proper off the bat, it is a spectacular illustration of a compact machine. It’s nice, not sacrificing an excessive amount of for its compact measurement, balancing portability and real-world usability with the proper office demand.
The truth that inside the field, Lenovo have despatched a mounting bracket as one of many solely equipment within the field exhibits the deal with having this machine tucked away in a handy or extra aesthetic place, relying on the person.
The bracket makes it very simple to VESA mount, mount beneath a desk, behind a monitor on a wall, or one thing comparable. That proper there exhibits fairly a little bit of what you’d must find out about this unit earlier than deciding whether or not to buy.
We’ll go additional into it afterward within the overview, however TLDR: it’s a strong machine that may match nearly wherever, so long as your computing wants received’t outpace what it has onboard.
Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Design & Construct High quality
I’ve talked about the smaller measurement, however maybe that is the proper time to enter the port providing. It has a lot of the ports on the again, with solely a headphone, USB-C, and a USB-A on the entrance.
On the again, with all of the ports, there are two DisplayPorts (on this mannequin), an HDMI, an influence port (sadly not USB-C), 4 USB-A ports, Ethernet, and an antenna port for including a Wi-Fi antenna if desired. For many situations that that is designed to run in, I’d recommend hard-lining the web, however that’s only one man’s opinion.
One factor to notice is that there aren’t a number of USB-C ports on this machine, despite the fact that it’s 2026 and USB-C is fairly frequent. I genuinely consider it’s as a result of Lenovo is aware of its goal. They aren’t making an attempt to market to those that are brimming with the most recent expertise with this system; they care extra about reaching the individuals and corporations
Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: In use
(Picture credit score: Collin Probst // Future)
The Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC is a spectacular “behind-the-scenes admin machine” offering usability, ports you really need, and simple setup. One of many nice issues a couple of monitor like that is the power to attach any monitor you so select.
For me, proper now, I’ve rotated this machine round a couple of displays throughout my testing.
The present monitor I’ve it on is the Dell 52-inch monster that was simply launched (overview coming quickly), however I’ve additionally used this mini PC on some BenQ displays, some transportable displays, and others. It’s labored effectively on all of them, although pushing the 52-inch 6K beast at 100% scaling (small and sharp) was a bit a lot for this man, so I needed to scale it slightly bit. However that’s comprehensible and was not a shock.
Utilizing this machine as a kiosk, a entrance desk, or a fundamental always-on machine is strictly what it’s meant for. It really works shortly and reliably, and it’s obtained sufficient ports to not want adapters. What else might you need in your fundamental workplace makes use of?
As a result of I wished to simulate an workplace setup I’ve seen, I hooked this PC as much as twin 1080p Dell displays, and it labored nice. Even going as much as twin 4K nonetheless ran wonderful.
One other nice possibility for this type of setup is sizzling desking. Some corporations must have machines that can be utilized by a number of individuals by way of a community login or a visitor login. This machine is nice for that because of the abundance of ports, smaller profile requiring much less desk area (or none if mounted), and good stability of energy and worth.
Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Last verdict
(Picture credit score: Collin Probst // Future)
In a world the place everyone seems to be boasting about probably the most superior “this-or-that” machines, the ThinkCentre Neo 50qc QC is quietly puttering alongside because the machine most companies would really be all in favour of, not simply flabbergasted by in a demo.
It’s obtained an incredible stability of energy, worth, and ports, making it a critical contender for a fundamental enterprise machine.
To be frank, on paper, the specs received’t impress. This desktop PC is not some superior supercomputer that may energy by means of each process. Regardless of that, the worth is comparatively excessive when in comparison with different Home windows 11 mini PCs we have reviewed, and I would not blame some for wanting elsewhere to get slightly extra energy for a similar (or barely much less) price.
Past that, although, it is a solidly constructed mini PC from a well known model that is well-specced for day-to-day enterprise use, and it is tough to seek out many faults if you already know what you are entering into.
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For extra choices, we have examined the greatest enterprise computer systems.
Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Value Comparability
