Is the Intel NUC really the Next Unit of Computing?

I've been in the Information Technology industry since 1993. Over the years, I've seen a lot of things come and go. Sometimes it's a real winner that stays in our conscience for years, like Windows XP. Sometimes its a quick burner that comes and goes in no time, like the Palm Pilot.

Through the years I've seen every conceivable form factor for PCs, from the biggest and most elaborate water cooled gaming rigs to the simple and compact all-in-one. So where does the NUC fit into this array of PC shapes and sizes, is it really the next big thing?

With the venerable PC being squeezed out by tablets, laptops, and virtual desktops is there any room left for a mid-priced micro form factor PC with full-size desktop power? For me the answer is a solid... maybe.

The boom in digital signage and connected home theater systems provides some great opportunities for these diminutive PCs. Corporate IT can easily find some compelling uses for these cool running tiny desktops in conference rooms, training rooms, compact cubicle environments, and possibly a few other niche uses, but I don't see anything to indicate that the normal PC form factors are obsolete.

Learn more about the Intel NUC here.