While it seems this unit only goes halfway to being a good media centre, at $1999 it’s a tidy little package that will perform above and beyond the normal needs of the average user, even if it doesn’t top the charts.

It's a tiny and capable performer for everyday computing and is worth considering if you are constrained for space or what a portable PC to share between locations. We wish it had more RAM and at least one more USB port.

If you're after a simple, flexible machine for productivity or browsing the Internet, Apple's budget PC-killer is a great choice.

With the Mini XC Cube, AOpen uses notebook technology to deliver a desktop that is both tiny and quiet.