This sounds good in principle, but I think it would be helpful to have some real numbers to look at in terms of lifecycle management before deciding. Are mini-

This sounds good in principle, but I think it would be helpful to have some real numbers to look at in terms of lifecycle management before deciding. Are mini-PCs actually more likely to have a shorter lifespan? Does the smaller physical footprint contribute to a smaller ecological footprint than a full-sized machine? Does the smaller energy consumption offset the manufacture footprint in a meaningful way? Personally, I found that I've been more likely to donate older mini-PCs to local nonprofits who repurpose them than I am full-sized machines, which I tend to keep around for "just in case" parts scavenging that in practice I rarely actually do. Meanwhile, having a lower cost mini-PC available has made me more likely to start out with a low power machine for a dedicated task with them promise I can always replace it with a "real" machine if the need ends up requiring it. To date, though, the mini-PC has always ended up proving to be "enough" and I've never actually needed to replace one for performance reasons. But this is just anecdotal. Like I said, I'm curious if there's any real data pointing one way or another.