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Ask HN: Does anyone make portable PCs?

2 points by mike-the-mikado ↗ HN
If I always use my laptop with an external keyboard and display, why do I need to carry these around with me? They largely determine the form factor of the PC. A suitably robust box, housing CPU and storage, could be much smaller and do the job just as effectively. Does anyone sell such a device?

12 comments

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gregjor
Apple sells the Mac Mini.

Intel and numerous other companies sell NUCs.

mike-the-mikado
These are small, but I don't see them specifically marketed as portable - i.e. robust enough to withstand the sort of treatment a laptop is expected to withstand.
linusg789
I have one of these, they are just as durable as an actual laptop. Even more so, as a matter of fact.
ThrowawayR2
Any bump severe enough to significantly damage a micro PC would also be enough to crack the screen or otherwise damage a laptop too.

Shock resistant, dustproof, etc. industrial computer modules do exist but you'd be paying something like 10x the price of an ordinary computer so it's not worthwhile.

gregjor
Because not many people carry a PC, monitor, keyboard, etc. around. We have laptops for that. You can get a sturdy case like a Pelikan if you want to protect it.
jqpabc123
Go to amazon.com and search for "mini PC'.
milsorgen
This but on eBay. Depending on hardware requirements there are some fantastic deals to be found compared to Amazon.
Finnucane
There are pc cases made to be carried around—you could diy it.
RetroTechie
Raspberry Pi?

If needed, RPi-like computers come in x86 flavour too.