Viewsonic VOT550 Mini PC Review : Affordable Yet Feature Packed

Viewsonic is a brand associated with monitors and carries the same pedigree as great names such as Iiyama, Mag Innovision, Tatung and Taxan (remember them?) in this field.

But while the aforementioned firms have all but disappeared from our radar, Viewsonic is still going strong and has actively diversified, which brings us to today's product, the VOT550 which is a tiny computer that bears some resemblance with the Mac Mini.

Viewsonic doesn't manufacture its own computers, instead prefering to use OEMs instead.

No surprises therefore to find out that it uses the MP45-BDR from Aopen, a fantastically good looking barebone chassis that's solidly built and boosts a Piano black colour; one that wouldn't mind having it by the side of your AV receiver.

It is just slightly bigger the Mac Mini and comfortably sits on the palm of your hand. However, its diminutive size hides a real powerhouse.

The VOT550 hides an Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 CPU running at 2.1GHz, 4GB RAM, a 320GB 2.5-inch drive, plus a slot-loading Blu-ray Combo drive, a remote control and 802.11n WiFi.

You will find the classy power switch as well as two USB ports and a tiny eject button for the slot-in Blu-ray reader on the front. The VOT550 uses a Realtek ALC888HD audio codec onboard which is a fairly standard feature.