Performant HTPC with chic design

Since I wanted above all a mixture of good looks and performance, my choice fell on the Asus Vivo PC. As I have previously had good experiences with Asus in the computer field (I own both an Asus HD 7850 and a Xonar D1) I simply once dared a blind buy and was as expected not disappointed.

The Mini-PC can be very attractive because of elegant design: The beautiful brushed aluminum surface is a real eye-catcher in the living room as the small form factor is a good thing, so that the PC easily fits into a compartment of my TV cabinet. Also, the connectivity options with an HDMI output, which the TV goes with me, and SPDIF / Toslink output, which goes to the amplifier, convince.

Compared to my Raspberry Pi the Asus PC stands out due to its performance. So runs the Asus PC XBMC, a media center application, which is a must especially for the home theater area, without problems and lets me enjoy my films guaranteed without any lag.

Thanks to the fast 802.11ac WLAN also no network cable from troubles in the old WLAN is standards saw this with me usually different: The compounds were usually too slow or unstable. With the new standard WLAN (peer is with me a Fritz box 7490) to a dream: running the streaming of 1080p content without jerking (of course, a corresponding Internet connection prerequisite).

Otherwise, the PC provides everything you need for a reasonable HTPC: A power-saving architecture, outputs and inputs of all kinds, a good computing performance, an attractive design and pleasantly quiet cooler.

In summary, one can say that the small power brick is worth especially for an audience that is looking for an elegant solution for your living room or your home office and is not familiar with the assembly of a PC. The performance of the computer is responsible for daily office tasks, such as creating a Word document or surfing the Internet more than adequate. Thanks to its low weight of 1.2 kg can take the PC also to friends, there to enjoy a movie night.

All in all, the device for the price was a good decision, which I would probably meet again.