A home run for working from home

When you’re considering a new work-from-home computer, you probably think of a laptop. But why? Portable PCs were designed for, well, portability, not desk duty. They’re bad ergonomics, with small screens that force you to bend over because they’re not at eye level. And if you’re working from home anyway, why pay for a battery that only wears out while it’s sitting there? Allow me to make the case for a mini PC, the modern alternative to yesterday’s giant desktop towers.

At a very affordable price, you get a powerful device that works with your choice of monitor, mouse, and keyboard—peripherals that provide the convenience that’s so important when you’re stuck at your desk. I’ve tested one such system, the Geekom IT11 Mini PC, and let me just pass my verdict: it’s great. I’ll explain why below, but first there’s a deal that needs to be mentioned: For a limited time, the Geekom IT11 Mini PC drops to $420 when you clip the $40 discount coupon on the page and then apply the promo code DN69ISFX at checkout. That’s for an Intel Core i5 final configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD). Regular price: $500. (Note that other configurations are available on the same page with slightly higher or lower prices.)

Geekom IT11 Mini PC design and features

Preinstalled with Windows 11 Pro, the IT11 packs a significant amount of hardware into its 4 x 6 x 4.4 x 1.8-inch frame – which, I should mention, mounts to the rear of most monitors with an included VESA mount can be. This is a great option as it keeps the system out of sight and reduces desk clutter. It also makes access to the ports more difficult, but the IT11 is easy to attach and detach from the mount when needed.

The configuration I tested includes an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and, as mentioned above, 16 GB of RAM and a spacious SSD. Amazingly, there’s room inside for additional RAM (up to 32GB total) and even a traditional 2.5″ SATA hard drive if you need more storage. Opening the case is as easy as removing four screws.

Although I didn’t run any benchmarks on the system (I test in real life situations), the system booted up lightning fast and ran my software at a healthy clip. If you’re someone who likes to keep more than a dozen browser tabs open, the IT11 can do it without breaking a sweat.

As for the graphics, the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics subsystem can handle a screen resolution of up to 4K. It can get bogged down if you’re doing really complex image or video editing work, but I found I was able to play the classic Borderlands PC game in Full HD resolution. In other words, this might not be a graphics powerhouse, but it can handle the basics well. In fact, the system supports up to four separate displays using a combination of HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, and USB-C connectors.

I’ve paired it with only one, the Excellent Innocn 27C1U 27 inch monitor, along with a wireless mouse/keyboard combo. The latter relies on a tiny USB dongle, but that wasn’t a problem as the IT11 offers three Type-A and two Type-C USB ports. It also has an SD memory card slot and a headphone jack.

The IT11 even excels at Wi-Fi: it’s equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi 6, so it should offer the fastest speed and strongest connectivity home users can get right now. Also on board: Bluetooth 5.2, another latest and greatest wireless implementation.

However, the system doesn’t have a built-in speaker, so you’ll have to look around for an external option (monitor, headphones, bluetooth speaker, etc.).

Geekom IT11 Mini PC: Worth Buying?

Unless your work requires mobility, you probably don’t need a laptop – in which case I definitely recommend the Geekom IT11. Yes, you have to BYO the monitor and keyboard, but that’s a good thing: you can choose larger, more comfortable ones that better suit your work-from-home setup.

Honestly, I struggled to find anything wrong with this PC. It is ready to use immediately, but offers room for expansion. It’s powerful enough for everyday computing tasks and even some games. And it’s refreshingly small, posing no threat at all to even the busiest of desks.

Originally published Dec 20, 2022 at 1:19 p.m