IMAGINE a desktop computer so small that it occupies just a small portion of your work desk.
Indeed, new generation desktop computers such as the Asus Nova P20 is so compact that it is actually no bigger than your dictionary.
In a highly competitive industry where laptops continue to dominate market share for its portability, desktop makers are slowly making a comeback by making their products smaller, faster and cheaper too.
Desktops used to be referred to as the 'tower' because they had multiple layers of drives and compartments. But computers like these will soon go the way of the dinosaurs.
The Nova P20 for instance looks more like a portable hard-drive than a computer.
The photograph on this page does not really do justice to it.
Weighing at just under 1.7 kg, it is actually about the size of three DVD casings stacked together.
More than just a work station, Asus is marketing it as one of its premier digital home entertainment products.
For a start, you can operate it easily like a movie disc player simply by slotting a DVD into it.
Once it detects the disc, it will launch its multimedia mode to enable users to play the movie.
As it also has a pair of built-in hi-fi speakers which is located at the front of the Nova, you can actually watch your movies without the need for extra speakers.
It is a pretty fast and robust little machine.
Supporting the 802.11n wireless standard, the Nova's high transmission rate of 300Mbps allows users to easily download a 30-minute high definition video in less than a minute.
BLUETOOTH
Its embedded Bluetooth device also allows it to connect to other devices such as notebooks and handhelds.
But what I like most about the Nova is its numerous ports which are all conveniently located at the back.
For example, it has four USB ports, which means that even after plugging in your keyboard and mouse, you still have two more to spare for your external memory devices.
To me, this small wonder's best feature is its affordability.
You can now buy it at a special price of just $799 at the PC Show which starts at the Suntec City today until Sunday.
And for $1,099 (which is its usual price), Asus is even throwing in a special bundle which includes an LCD screen, keyboard and mouse.
With such good deals, it's no wonder that desktops are still the preferred choice for cost-conscious companies and homes.
