Intel is killing its NUC line of compact PCs
In the face of declining PC demand, Intel will stop making compact PCs. It will, however, encourage and help partners to continue the segment.
This is the very recent Intel NUC 13 Extreme system.
If you like compact PCs, then you will be familiar with Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) business. This was a department that was focused on making the most compact and powerful desktop PCs.
Sadly, Intel has just confirmed that it will stop making NUC PCs. According to reports, the company confirmed that it will be ending the "direct investment" of its NUC business.
It will, however, continue to "honour its existing commitments," which means it will still offer support for systems that it has already sold. It will also look for ways to encourage and help partners continue designing and building compact PCs.
Although the company did not explicitly state why it's stopping the business, it's painfully clear to anyone with a pair of eyes that Intel's businesses are negatively impacted by the current economic climate and declining PC sales. Stopping the NUC business will allow it to focus on designing and making chips.
There are other reasons too. For one, it's becoming increasingly difficult to stuff power-hungry CPUs and GPUs into small form-factor chassis without significant development.
Also, Intel didn't do itself any favours by not marketing its NUC PCs heavily enough and making them easy to buy. It made some truly interesting little PCs – like the NUC 9 Pro kit – but didn't do enough to tell the world about it. And even if people did know about it, you couldn't just walk into any store and buy it.
The final coffin in the nail, however, could be said to be the reemergence of Apple's Mac mini. For casual computing needs, it's hard to look at the Mac mini and say why would you need anything more. Not only is it arguably more stylish, but it's also more powerful too.
It's a sad day for enthusiasts of small form-factor PCs, and it also raises questions about the future of small form-factor computing. Without Intel to lead the way, it's hard to imagine that its partners could come up with anything that is going to even come anywhere near the Mac mini.
Source: Engadget
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.