Over the last couple of decades we have seen the shift from desktop PC to laptop dominance, then netbooks, tablets, Chromebooks and now a resurgence of laptops and efficient desktops. HP has introduced the HP Pavilion and HP Stream Mini Desktops just as the desktop computer attached to a TV or large display becomes a focal point of homes again.
According to HP:
“The desktop tower PC continues to be a focal point in the home for sharing, creating, and entertaining,” said Mike Nash, vice president, product management, Consumer Personal Systems, HP. “The HP Pavilion and HP Stream Mini Desktops deliver the benefits of a traditional desktop PC in a package that looks good sitting on a desk and is small enough to fit into an entertainment center.”
And I have seen it happening in my friend group at work and online – people started by adding an XBOX or Roku to their living room, then a smart Blu-Ray player and Amazon TV, and then realize that as they are sitting reading email and not watching whatever is on the screen maybe they should put that massive screen to more use.
So at CES 2015 HP announced two mini desktops, the HP Pavilion Mini Desktop and the HP Stream Mini Desktop – the Pavilion is centered around performance while the Stream is the value entry.
Mighty Powerhouse, Compact Design
The HP Pavilion Mini Desktop is ENERGY STAR® certified, drawing up to 45 watts of power compared to 250 watts for a typical tower PC. Built-in Wi-Fi6 and Bluetooth® allow customers to stream content from any room they choose and connect with Bluetooth accessories. With the decline use of optical DVD media in a more connected digital world, the HP Pavilion Mini Desktop does not include an optical drive. External USB optical drive can be used through any of the four USB ports. The HP Pavilion Mini Desktop comes in Snow White to effortlessly complement home décor.
Joining the innovative line of HP Stream products is the HP Stream Mini Desktop, providing unsurpassed value in the same small and powerful package as the HP Pavilion Mini Desktop. The HP Stream Mini Desktop comes with value-added services including 32 GB solid-state drive (SSD) for speed and reliability, 200 GB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage for two years,7 and a $25 gift card for the Windows Store to purchase apps, Xbox games, music and more.8 The HP Stream Mini Desktop comes in a vibrant Cobalt Blue to match the stunning colors offered in the HP Stream family.
Pricing and Availability9
The HP Pavilion Mini Desktop and HP Stream Mini Desktop are expected to be available in the United States on Jan. 14, 2015 through HP Online. Both come bundled with keyboard and mouse.
The HP Pavilion Mini Desktop starting price of $319.99 includes Intel Pentium 3558U processor, 4 GB RAM and a 500 GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
The HP Stream Mini Desktop starting price of $179.99 includes Intel Celeron 2957U processor, 2 GB RAM and a 32 GB SSD.
You can get more information about the HP Pavilion Mini Desktophere. For the HP Stream Mini Desktop, you are currently directed to a ‘Thank you for your interest’ page.
