Intel NUC

This is my new computer. I've had it for over a month now and am just about gaining confidence in it. It plugs into my 22" monitor. All it needs other than that is a USB keyboard and mouse. Also some speakers for sound. It never gets warm and is very quiet (hardly audible).

It has an i5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 250GB SSD. All of which makes it fast to boot up and open programs. The cost was £250 from an Ebay seller who makes the hardware up to customer requirements.

Wow !! that is either a very small computer or a very large ballpoint pen

It's a very large pen. :)

I have two Advent laptops one with Windows 7 and one with Windows 10 both getting older and slower, one iPad, and one Samsung android tablet both of which are way beyond their useful life.
I keep looking for modern up-to-date replacements, but can never decide on which one to replace, I am quite fond of the familiarity and 'feel' of them all.

Very neat little kit.

I've been so pleased with this computer running Windows 10 Home that I just bought another with the same specifications and from the same Ebay seller. It's more expensive than some found on Ebay because of the better specifications. I was also pleased with the condition of the first one, enough to go back to the same trader.

This second one has replaced an old full-sized tower running Linux Mint (Cinnamon). It's all set up now and running well. I hope it continues that way. Like the first one, it's a fast little thing with its 250GB SSD, 16GB of RAM and Intel 6000 onboard graphics.

I don't think I'll ever buy a full-sized tower again. Might not need to buy another computer anyway ..being 75 years old and all that.

Sounds good Mart and I'm sure you will enjoy setting it up and using it too.
I fear I could no longer face the complications of installation and set-up anymore, it would give me too many sleepless nights !

Linux is quite easy to set up from the start. Once the boot up USB stick has been made and used to start the computer, You're given the chance to try Linux without installing it. There's a Desktop shortcut to click on that starts the procedure of actually installing the OS.

Unless you use any third-party specialist programs, it can be used 'as is' straightaway because it comes pre-installed with all the programs needed for everyday computing. It only needs the browser setting up with bookmarks and preferences.

It's pretty much the same when installing Windows from a USB stick, except the OS will install without giving a chance to try it first.

I'm interested in one of these, the price seems quite reasonable and I have most of the peripheral hardware already.
There are quite a lot to choose from on Ebay though!

Yes, not all Intel NUCs are the same. They all have varying degrees of processor, storage drive, memory and built-in graphics processor (I'd recommend one with an SSD).

Where the details aren't given on Ebay, highlight the model number, right click on it and choose 'Search for'. It's a quick and handy way of finding out the specifications for that model. If just the long model number is searched for, I noticed the specifications page is nearly always at the top of the search results.

Edit: The graphics processor in both the ones I bought are 'Intel 6000'. I see some on Ebay being '4000' or '5000', which presumably won't be as good ..but will be cheaper. The first NUC I bought in February cost £249. The one I just got cost £300. A bit of a price jump.

Thanks Mart, I'll do a bit more research before I make my mind up which one is for me.

A couple more things. The first NUC I bought came with a metal plate that made it possible to fix it to the back of the monitor. I have used it with the NUC I just bought. The newer one didn't come with the plate. This might be something to ask the seller about if it's important.

Also needed is a mini-HDMI to standard HDMI lead for connecting the NUC to the monitor.





This is the one set up with Linux in an outhouse at the bottom of the garden. A place of quiet solitude.  

I'm in the process of sorting my pensions out at the moment and I will treat myself to one of these when that is finalised.

Thanks for the heads up Mart.