By Rieva Lesonsky
When HP asked me to review the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Desktop Mini, I readily agreed. I was out of town when my significant other told me a got a box from HP and I said, “Oh that must be the desktop computer.” He said it couldn’t be since the box was too small and light.
But that’s the amazing thing about the EliteDesk 800. It’s so small and light. (A package that came the same day from Barnes & Noble containing a book was heavier.) Smaller than a laptop or a tablet (though thicker than they are), the computer weighs less than 3 pounds, has as much power as a traditional desktop and yet is three times more energy-efficient than a tower.
Don’t think the compact size means you’re not getting everything you need (other than a monitor). The front of the unit conveniently has ports for microphones and headphones and USB slots as well (one of which is fast-charging). You can customize the unit with up to 16 GB of RAM (my kind of computer).
Being part of the Elite family, the computer also comes with full global support from HP, a U.S.-based call center with 24/7 assistance available.
This computer is a dream-machine for small businesses. Despite its compact size, the EliteDesk Mini packs a powerful punch. So it’s perfect for home-based business owners who don’t have a convenient spot to park a tower, or entrepreneurs who work in small leased office space. The Mini takes up virtually no room on your desk (or dining room table). It’s small enough (a little smaller than seven inches square) you can mount it to the back of a monitor, creating your own all-in-one computer, or purchase a separate “tower” stand to hold it vertically.
It’s the ideal computer to give to a virtual workforce, who may not have the space at home for a bulky tower. And if you’re a mobile business, you can work from a food truck or a kiosk.
Prices for the device I got from HP start at around $700. But HP just announced its expanding the Mini Desktop family to include two new models, the HP 260 and HP 400 which are built on the “same small chassis” as the EliteDesk but are priced lower—ideal for small businesses.
Prices haven’t been released yet, but you can sign up to get an alert when the machines are ready for sale.
The exciting news is—we get to spread the joy around. HP has given us an EliteDesk to give to you. Stay tuned for a contest announcement. In addition to us, there is a network of sites giving away an EliteDesk. Check them out as well.
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Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a media and custom content company focusing on small business and entrepreneurship. Email Rieva at rieva@smallbizdaily.com, follow her on Google+ and Twitter.com/Rieva.
