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Beelink U57 - Downsizing to a Mini PCPublished September 11, 2020
I even purchased a Chromebook in an attempt to be a nomadic writer, but the Chromebook just frustrated me. There were too many things that I could not do on the Chromebook that I was able to do on my old faithful desktop. I wanted something with the power of my Windows 10 machine but without the girth. What Did I Need/Want?In looking for a mini pc my minimum requirements were it had to have at least an i5 Intel processor, 8GB of memory, and 256 GB of storage. I also wanted a PC with the necessary ports, i.e., HDMI, USB 3.0, and an SD card slot. I wanted a Windows operating system (I just can’t muster the will to transition from Windows to Apple at this stage) so I could transfer my software programs (couldn’t do that with Chromebook). Much beyond that, I needed small and reliable. Basically, I wanted to be able to take the contents of my home computer, put it on something small, lightweight, powerful, and portable so I could work from anywhere. Why I Chose the Beelink U57 Mini PCWhen I saw the Beelink U57 mini-computer (Amazon Affiliate Link), I was impressed. I spent quite some time comparing it to my current computer and to other mini PCs. It had all of the necessary ports. It even has a USB-C port and Bluetooth (which my current computer doesn’t have). My desktop does have a CD ROM drive, but who uses those anymore? My old computer had a couple more USB slots than the Beelink, but with Bluetooth connectivity, I don’t really need so many slots. After spending a few days reviewing the specs, reading all of the reviews (4.9 out of 5 stars), comparing it to other mini pcs, and pondering, I decided to pull the trigger and buy the Beelink U57 mini PC.What You Get with Beelink In the box, you get the following:
As I mentioned earlier, I needed a device with the proper ports. The Beelink U57 has the following ports/slots:
The one thing I can vouch for is it’s small. The size is 124mm x 113mm x 41mm {roughly 4.8" x 4.4" x 4.6"). Small enough to fit in my purse. It weighs less than 2 pounds. At this point the 256 GB is more storage than what I need, however, with the instructions, I can always increase the storage to as much as a terabyte. The ram is not expandable, but the storage is. Working with the Beelink Mini ProcessorWorking with the mini processor is just like working with my old desktop, except it is smaller, faster, and quieter. All I had to do was attach the screen, keyboard/mouse (Bluetooth or wired), turn it on, and was in business. It’s equipped with Windows 10 Pro and it starts up quickly and quietly. I’ve been able to install all of the necessary software (except my old copy of Adobe FrameMaker - the subject of another post) to use this as my home computer. 
Initially, I purchased it because it’s portable. However, after working with it as my home computer, I couldn’t be happier. The good thing is, it’s small enough to travel with. Not like a laptop type of travel, but an I’m-in-a-hotel-room-for-two-weeks-and-need-to-work type of travel. After all, it does not hold a charge and needs a steady source of electricity. With that in mind, I purchased a protective travel case (Amazon Affiliate Link) which makes traveling with it easy. I’ve connected this device to TVs, mini projector, old computer screen, and a new portable computer screen (a subject for a future post). Its portability adds a plethora of options. Because it’s so portable, it’s important to keep a separate backup just in case. I don’t expect to lose or drop it, but stranger things have happened. Felicia (aka Low Tech Grandma) is a wife, mother, grandmother, freelance writer and low tech blogger. Last Modified: 10 February 2023 |
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The Beelink Mini PC has helped me in my attempt to minimize things around the house, I’ve been looking for items that serve more than one purpose and don’t take up a lot of space. During my recent