HP is introducing Z2 Mini, a mini-desktop, loaded with Intel server CPU and Nvidia Quadro GPUinto a box that can be held in a hand. 
With this sleek and powerful hardware, HP is aiming the Apple Mac Mini users. The Z2 Mini packs the computing power of a full-size desktop in a box that can be held in one hand. Starting at $699, it will be available worldwide starting in December.
HP has a traditional excelling in PC design. Its innovative range of desktops includes Pavillion Wave (a cylindrical desktop), and Elite Slice that is a modular mini desktop with snap components. And, now Z2 Mini a 2.4 kilogram desktop that can cram an Intel server CPU and discrete Nvidia GPU- along with their own cooling fans; altogather into a tiny space while delivering screaming performance at the same time.
The HP’s Z2Mmini provides a considerable alternative to the owners of the aging Mac Mini, which now require a good design and hardware upgrade. “Apple has been abandoning the professional market and for engineers and designers, the Z2 Mini is superior to the Mac Mini”, said Jeff Wood, vice president of HP’s workstation business, during a briefing.
Since, Apple has released the MacBook Pro, with many innovative features like the touch bar, the idea that Apple is stepping away from the professional market was highlighted. But at the same time, it attracted the criticisms for using the old Intel Skylake chips. For many, MacBook Pro is more of a consumer PC than a business PC. A fact that is essential to be noticed that Apple has not upgraged its Mac pro desktop since 2013, and the Windows workstations are filling that void. The new Windows workstations have superior processors, GPUs, memory and SSD storage.
“The Z2 Mini is targeted at engineers and architects using applications like Autodesk or Solidworks. However, it isn’t meant for use with VR headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive”, an HP spokesperson said. Nvidia’s Quadro M620 GPU isn’t designed for VR, and headsets typically need full-powered desktops like the Z840 with cutting-edge GPUs.
The Z2 mini-desktop can be configured with Intel’s Xeon E3-1200v5 CPU, or Core chips. It supports up to 32GB of memory and up to 1.5TB of storage. An entry-level model will have three DisplayPort ports, two USB 3.0 ports and an ethernet port. A fully loaded model will have two additional USB Type-C ports.
But it is not wholesome pack of perfection; some features are missing here. It doesn’t have an HDMI port to attach displays, or a Thunderbolt 3 slot to attach high-speed storage. Workstation users dealing with high-end graphics need more than 1.5TB of storage, and the USB 3.0 port, with its data transfer speed of 10Gbps (bits per second), may not be enough. Storage devices attached to a Thunderbolt 3 port—which transfers data at 40Gbps—can be used in real time, much like internal storage. The Z2 can be mounted behind a monitor so it remains hidden.
Article By Bharti Amlani
